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2024 South Korean martial law crisis Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol is found guilty of treason and abuse of power for ordering drones to be flown into North Korea in o
Confirmed
Korea drone operation Published : June 12, 2026 - 11:37:11 Updated : June 12, 2026 - 17:13:25 Court finds operation aimed at provoking Pyongyang to build case for martial law Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a Seoul court Friday, which ruled that a covert drone operation targeting Pyongyang was intended to provoke North Korea and help justify his martial law declaration.
The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of benefiting the enemy and abuse of power, concluding that the operation was designed to heighten inter-Korean military tensions rather than serve legitimate national security objectives.
In an incident unrelated to Yoon’s drone case, South Korean investigators found that government officials had sent drones into the nuclear-armed North in January. Legal observers said the decision also represents the first conviction of a former South Korean president for an offense categorized as an external security crime.
The judges ruled that the operation unnecessarily consumed military resources, weakened readiness for an actual emergency and exposed South Korean military assets and capabilities to North Korea. “The defendants decided to create a national emergency by inducing North Korean military provocations and heightening inter-Korean military tensions,” the court said, adding that they used psychological warfare operations to provoke Pyongyang and create conditions that could set the stage for the declaration of martial law.
Addressing Yoon specifically, the court noted that the Constitution grants the president extraordinary powers, including command of the armed forces and authority to declare martial law, to protect the nation’s existence and security.
The court found that the drone mission was part of a broader effort to induce a North Korean reaction, rather than a legitimate military response. READ: South Korea: Prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-president Yoon Judges said Yoon intended to provoke Pyongyang “into carrying out armed or equivalent acts against South Korea’s military of people”, according to a summary of their ruling seen by AFP.
The case centered on allegations that Yoon and senior military officials ordered multiple drone flights over Pyongyang beginning in October 2024 and distributed leaflets critical of North Korea in an effort to trigger a military response from Pyongyang.
On Friday, the court’s judges said the 2024 drone operation “entailed the use of South Korea’s military capabilities for private purposes”. “We express deep regret over a guilty verdict that has lent legitimacy to the special counsel’s political indictment,” Yoon’s lawyers said.
What's confirmed
- On Friday, the court’s judges said the 2024 drone operation “entailed the use of South Korea’s military capabilities for private purposes”.
- But Yoon approved the military drone operation, “believing he could arbitrarily use such powers for his own political gain,” the judges said.
- The judges ruled that the operation unnecessarily consumed military resources, weakened readiness for an actual emergency and exposed South Korean military assets and capabilities to North Korea.
What's still developing
- READ: South Korea: Prosecutors demand death penalty for ex-president Yoon Judges said Yoon intended to provoke Pyongyang “into carrying out armed or equivalent acts against South Korea’s military of people”,…
- Martial law lasted only about six hours as lawmakers raced to the assembly building and voted it down in an emergency session.
- In an incident unrelated to Yoon’s drone case, South Korean investigators found that government officials had sent drones into the nuclear-armed North in January.
- President Lee expressed regret earlier this year over the incident.
- Korea drone operation Published : June 12, 2026 - 11:37:11 Updated : June 12, 2026 - 17:13:25 Court finds operation aimed at provoking Pyongyang to build case for martial law Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was…
- The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon guilty of benefiting the enemy and abuse of power, concluding that the operation was designed to heighten inter-Korean military tensions rather than serve legitimate…
- “The defendants decided to create a national emergency by inducing North Korean military provocations and heightening inter-Korean military tensions,” the court said, adding that they used psychological warfare…
- The case centered on allegations that Yoon and senior military officials ordered multiple drone flights over Pyongyang beginning in October 2024 and distributed leaflets critical of North Korea in an effort to…