Did South Korea's Yoon Suk-yeol order drone missions into Pyongyang to justify martial law?
South Korea 's former president
Yoon Suk-yeol may have ordered drone missions over Pyongyang in a bid to trigger a North Korean military response is now at the centre of the investigation into his December
martial law debacle
Advertisement
Special prosecutors probing Yoon for insurrection and foreign aggression incitement believe the audio files could amount to a 'smoking gun' – offering evidence he sought to manufacture a crisis to legitimise extending his presidency, observers said.
'Yoon now faces allegations that, instead of fulfilling his duty to protect the people as commander-in-chief, he jeopardised their safety in an unlawful attempt to extend his rule,' Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, told This Week in Asia.
The former leader declared martial law on December 3, citing unspecified threats from
North Korea and 'anti-state forces' threatening democracy, as well as a legislative deadlock caused by opposition control of the National Assembly.
'If the North had responded militarily, it could have sparked armed conflict along the border – and potentially escalated into an all-out war,' Yang said.
Former president Yoon Suk-yeol arrives for questioning over charges related to the December 3 martial law imposition at the special prosecutor's office in Seoul on June 28. Photo: EPA
According to reports from both the conservative Dong-A Ilbo and the progressive Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper, special prosecutors investigating Yoon on insurrection charges have secured a recording of military officers quoting Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae as saying that the drone missions were ordered by 'V' – believed to be shorthand for the former president.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
37 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers may face suspension, pay cuts under proposed misconduct rules
Hong Kong's legislature is expected to investigate evidence-based, real-name complaints about lawmakers' conduct through a committee with an expanded scope, as part of a proposal to revamp current guidelines and regulations. Advertisement Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, president of the Legislative Council, said on Thursday that those found in violation could face the maximum penalty of suspension from office and salary deductions, but stopped short of naming specific standards to categorise 'minor, serious and gross' misconduct. 'The revamped Rules of Procedures provide a very good framework, under which lawmakers can perform their duties better … they have no impact on those who sincerely work for the city and residents,' Leung told reporters, hours after the proposal was uploaded to Legco's website. 'We cannot categorise the level of seriousness based on empty talk. It should be based on investigation and evidence, and whether certain conduct has harmed the legislature's reputation.' Leung previously said that lawmakers having an affair with their assistants were 'more likely' to violate the revamped rules. Advertisement The proposal will be discussed by the House Committee on Friday and is expected to be tabled at the Legco meeting on July 23. If approved, it will be applied to the next legislature, which will begin its term on January 1, 2026. According to the proposed amendments, the current Committee on Members' Interests will be upgraded to the 'Legislative Council Supervisory Committee', which consists of 13 members with expanded functions, including conducting investigations based on real-name complaints with evidence provided.
The Standard
an hour ago
- The Standard
South Korea's parliament passes revision to rules governing martial law
A person holds a South Korean flag in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 6, 2024. (Reuters)
South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Man found dead on balcony of Hong Kong flat in aftermath of blaze
A man was found dead on the balcony of a Hong Kong building in the aftermath of a fire in Sham Shui Po, police have revealed. A force spokesman said police received reports of a fire at 4.08am on Thursday on the 28th floor of a residential building on Yee Kuk Street in Sham Shui Po. The spokesman said one of the people who called police was the resident of the flat that had caught fire and claimed he was trapped in a room. Officers at the scene reported seeing smoke and flames, and hearing the sound of an explosion. The force said firefighters did not find anyone inside the flat when they first entered, but later discovered a man lying on the balcony. He was certified dead at the scene. Police said they had yet to confirm the identity of the deceased and the cause of death. The case is currently under investigation.
