Summary
- They said it was meant to provoke North Korea.
- However, they said it was actually intended to escalate tensions with North Korea.
- Tensions between North and South Korea were already high in 2024.
A South Korean court has sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 more years in prison. The ruling is linked to a drone operation carried out toward North Korea.
The Seoul District Court found him guilty of ordering drones to be sent into North Korean territory in October 2024. Prosecutors said the move was deliberate. They said it was meant to provoke North Korea.
Authorities argued that the operation was designed to create a tense security situation. They said it could have been used as justification for imposing martial law later.
The court also convicted several former defence officials. These included ex-Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun and senior military commanders. They were also found guilty of treason and abuse of power. Their sentences range from three to 30 years.
The judges said the operation was carried out under the name of a military activity. However, they said it was actually intended to escalate tensions with North Korea. The court warned that such actions increased the risk of armed conflict.
Yoon is already in prison. He is serving a life sentence for a separate conviction. That case involved his failed attempt to impose martial law in December 2024.
That decision had triggered large protests across South Korea. It also led to political instability and his removal from office.
Prosecutors said the drone incident was part of a broader plan linked to his political strategy at the time. His legal team rejected the claims. They said the actions were a response to North Korea’s provocations.
Tensions between North and South Korea were already high in 2024. Both sides had accused each other of sending propaganda materials across the border using balloons and drones.
The latest sentence adds to a series of convictions against the former president. It marks one of the most serious political and legal crises in South Korea in recent years.
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