A graduate student accused of raising inter-Korean tensions by flying drones into North Korea has been arrested.
Judge Boo Dong-sik of the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant on the 26th for the 32-year-old graduate student surnamed Oh, who faces charges including general treason, violations of the Aviation Safety Act, and the Military Bases Act. The judge cited concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk.
According to a joint military-police investigation task force, Oh allegedly sent drones into North Korea four times between September last year and last month to gain economic benefits through a drone business. The drones were programmed to depart from Ganghwa Island in Incheon, pass through Kaesong and Pyongsan County in North Korea, and return to Paju in Gyeonggi Province.
The task force determined that the acts heightened inter-Korean tensions, prompting North Korea to issue condemnation statements and putting South Korean citizens at risk. The task force also found that Oh compromised military interests by exposing military information and triggering changes in North Korea's defense posture.
Oh's attorney argued at the morning hearing that "general treason falls within the realm of legal interpretation," adding that "it is excessive for prosecutors to characterize this as treasonous when the alleged acts cannot be observed with the naked eye."
The task force is continuing its investigation into Oh and six other individuals.