South Korea Seeks Arrest of Military Drone Unit Chief Amid Yoon Suk Yeol Probe

South Korean prosecutors have requested a court warrant to detain Kim Yong-dae, head of a military drone unit, amid an ongoing investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration and alleged drone activities targeting North Korea.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office announced Sunday that Kim was summoned last week regarding allegations that ex-President Yoon ordered a covert drone operation into North Korean territory in 2024. The operation allegedly aimed to escalate inter-Korean tensions to justify Yoon’s short-lived martial law announcement in December. Yoon, who was indicted on new charges Saturday, has denied all accusations.

Kim admitted to reporters that the drone flight was part of a “clandestine military operation” responding to trash-laden balloons launched from the North. He denied any intention to provoke North Korea. The North, however, claimed in October that South Korean drones dropped anti-regime leaflets over Pyongyang and released images of a crashed drone. At the time, South Korea neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

Kim was arrested Friday under emergency powers that allow law enforcement to detain individuals without a court warrant if there's a credible risk of evidence destruction or flight. A court hearing to review the formal arrest warrant request is scheduled for Monday.

The incident adds to mounting political turmoil surrounding Yoon, who is currently imprisoned. The prosecution’s deepening investigation has reignited debate over the former leader’s controversial decisions during his presidency.

This case highlights growing concerns over militarized tactics in inter-Korean relations and the legal fallout for senior officials involved. As tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high, the outcome of this probe could have significant implications for South Korea’s civil-military oversight and future drone policies.