S. Korea Suspends Drone Chief Amid Explosive Allegations
(MENAFN) The South Korean Ministry of Defense on Monday suspended Major General Kim Yong-dae, the head of the military's drone operations, amid explosive allegations that he facilitated drone missions into North Korean airspace, media reported.
The suspension is linked to a wider investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of orchestrating a secret drone incursion into Pyongyang last October. Prosecutors claim the operation was a deliberate provocation intended to trigger a military confrontation that would justify Yoon’s imposition of martial law in December.
On Sunday, Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team disclosed that they had detained Kim and were seeking a formal arrest warrant. According to a news agency, he is being investigated for allegedly aiding the enemy, forging official documents, and abusing his authority.
Kim was apprehended without a warrant on Friday, just one day after undergoing questioning by the special counsel’s office.
In a related development, former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup acknowledged that he received a phone call from Yoon on July 31, 2023, shortly before suspected interference in a military probe into the death of Marine Corporal Chae Su-geun.
Lee Jong-sup’s legal team informed Special Prosecutor Lee Myeong-hyeon’s office that former President Yoon voiced worries about the initial investigation into Chae's death during their phone conversation.
Investigators have also searched key military and government facilities as part of their widening inquiry. Last week, raids were carried out at the Drone Operations Command, the Ministry of Defense, and the Defense Counterintelligence Command in an effort to collect crucial evidence tied to the case.
Authorities believe the covert drone mission to Pyongyang was directly ordered by Yoon in October.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
