News Screen — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over the case of sending military drones to North Korea which was seen as triggering an escalation in inter-Korean tensions.
The verdict read out by the Seoul Central District Court on Friday stated that Yoon was proven to have approved drone operations in 2024 which were said to be part of an effort to create a state of national emergency to justify the declaration of military emergency.
The judge assessed that this action was a form of abuse of presidential power, with the aim of provoking a North Korean military response so that it could be used as an excuse to implement martial law within the country.
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In its consideration, the court said Yoon intended to increase military tensions and create a national crisis for political purposes, by exploiting his authority as head of state and supreme commander of the armed forces.
This case relates to an incident involving military drone flights into North Korean territory that occurred two months before Yoon suspended the civilian government in December 2024. This action triggered a strong reaction from Pyongyang and worsened relations between the two countries.
Yoon is currently still being detained pending the appeal process against another sentence related to alleged rebellion in the declaration of military emergency which lasted briefly but sparked a political crisis in South Korea.
The defense denied all the allegations and stated that the drone operation was carried out in response to North Korea sending balloons filled with rubbish into South Korean territory.
The court emphasized that the use of military force for personal political interests cannot be justified in a democratic system, even if it is under the authority of the president.
Meanwhile, inter-Korean tensions have risen again after North Korea called South Korea its “most hostile” enemy, amid worsening prospects for reconciliation between the two countries, which are technically still at war.***
Source: AFP
