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South Korean Defense Ministry Moves to Discipline Four Generals Over 2024 Martial‑Law Drone Operation

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  • Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, the former head of the Drone Operations Command, appears for questioning by a special counsel team at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on Sept. 18, 2025. (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, the former head of the Drone Operations Command, appears for questioning by a special counsel team at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on Sept. 18, 2025. (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his hearing on charges stemming from his failed martial law bid in 2024 at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Jan. 16, 2026, in this photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his hearing on charges stemming from his failed martial law bid in 2024 at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Jan. 16, 2026, in this photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size
  • Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his hearing on charges stemming from his failed martial law bid in 2024 at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Jan. 16, 2026, in this photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
    Image: Yonhap
    Former President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his hearing on charges stemming from his failed martial law bid in 2024 at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Jan. 16, 2026, in this photo provided by the court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) Source Full size

Disciplinary Committee Set to Review Four Senior Officers The Defense Ministry will convene a disciplinary committee on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, to consider sanctions against four senior officers tied to former President Yoon Suk‑yeol’s brief 2024 martial‑law attempt, including a former head of the Drone Operations Command and a former Joint Chiefs chief [1].

Drone Missions Executed Under Defense Minister Kim Yong‑hyun’s Orders Prosecutors allege that Defense Minister Kim Yong‑hyun directed the October 2024 launch of unmanned aircraft toward North Korea, with Maj. Gen. Kim Yong‑dae carrying out the orders and Lt. Gen. Lee Seung‑oh coordinating the operation while serving as JCS chief [1].

Yoon Suk‑yeol’s Pretrial Hearing Scheduled for Abuse‑of‑Power Case The Seoul Central District Court set a pretrial hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, to consider the indictment of ex‑President Yoon on abuse‑of‑power charges for allegedly interfering with a military investigation into a Marine death; Yoon is not required to attend [2].

Marine Conscription Death Prompted Alleged Interference Scheme The deceased Marine conscript was swept away during a July 2023 flood‑search mission without a life vest, and prosecutors claim Yoon tried to alter the probe’s findings to protect the senior Marine commander, extending charges to eleven other officials including former National Security Adviser Cho Tae‑yong and former Defense Minister Lee Jong‑sup [2].

Broad Legal Fallout From Failed Martial‑Law Bid Yoon now faces eight criminal trials, including accusations of leading an insurrection linked to his December 2024 martial‑law attempt, while the disciplinary action against the four generals underscores the military’s internal accountability measures [1][2].

Sources

Timeline

Nov 28, 2025 – North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly passes a “city formation and development law,” unveils an AI‑powered weather‑forecast system, completes a 500‑ton cruise ship for the Taedong River, and Kim Jong un inspects a new greenhouse farm, while state media denounce U.S.–South Korea drills and celebrate the women’s football team’s 5‑2 win over Russia [30].

Dec 10, 2025 – The South Korean Defense Ministry dismisses drone‑command chief Kim Yong‑dae, citing his alleged role in a secret 2024 drone operation meant to provoke North Korea and justify a martial‑law declaration [29].

Dec 22, 2025 – Seoul’s Central District Court schedules a closed‑door hearing to decide whether to extend former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s pre‑trial detention beyond Jan 18, as prosecutors seek an extra six‑month term linked to the alleged 2024 drone plot [28].

Jan 9, 2026 – North Korea accuses Seoul of “unforgivable hysteria” and warns that “warmongers will pay a dear price” after claiming South Korean drones breached its airspace in September 2025 and on Jan 4 2026 [24].

Jan 10, 2026 – South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back rejects the accusations as “absolutely not true,” orders a swift, thorough probe, and notes the drones shown by Pyongyang do not match any South Korean military models [20].

Jan 11, 2026 – The Blue House reiterates that the government “has no intention of provoking or irritating the North” and pledges a joint military‑police investigation into the drone incident [19].

Jan 11, 2026 – North Korean state media claim it “downed” an intruding drone with electronic warfare, labeling the act a “grave violation of sovereignty” and warning of serious retaliation [18].

Jan 12, 2026 – About 30 police and military officials launch a joint probe into North Korea’s drone allegations, while Seoul’s Central District Court holds the first closed‑door hearing in Yoon Suk Yeol’s trial on charges of aiding the enemy over the 2024 drone dispatch [15][16].

Jan 13, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong demands a detailed explanation, warning that if Seoul calls the incursions “a civilian act,” North Korea “could unleash numerous unmanned aerial vehicles via civilian agencies” [14].

Jan 14, 2026 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young says Seoul will take “corresponding action” after the probe, hints at a possible apology for the 2024 drone dispatch pending a court ruling, and links the issue to former President Yoon’s trial [13].

Jan 16, 2026 – North Korea “takes note” of Seoul’s claim that its military was not involved, while South Korea reaffirms its effort to ease tensions and reviews the possibility of restoring the inter‑Korean military‑tension‑reduction pact [11].

Jan 20, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung orders a “thorough” investigation into the civilian drone incursion, criticizes Defense Minister Ahn for a surveillance “hole,” and warns that the act could threaten peninsula stability [10].

Jan 23, 2026 – South Korean authorities place three civilians—including graduate student Oh—under overseas travel bans as part of a joint police‑military probe into alleged drone flights to the North [2].

Jan 26, 2026 – Graduate student Oh appears before police after publicly claiming he piloted drones to North Korea to check radiation at a uranium site; investigators seize a partially assembled drone and link the suspects to a former presidential‑office drone firm [6].

Jan 27, 2026 – North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles toward the sea, a test timed to showcase weapons progress ahead of the Workers’ Party congress expected in late January or February, where Kim Jong Un may embed a hostile “two‑state” system into the party constitution [1].

Feb 5, 2026 – South Korea’s Defense Ministry convenes a disciplinary committee to sanction four senior generals—including Maj. Gen. Kim Yong‑dae and Lt. Gen. Lee Seung‑oh—over their alleged roles in the October 2024 drone operation that sought to provoke North Korea and support a martial‑law bid [5].

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