South Korea Raids Intelligence Agency Over North Korea Drone Flights

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Police South Korea raid the institution that launched the drone to North Korea today, Tuesday (10/2), amidst Seoul’s efforts to improve relations with Pyongyang.

A joint South Korean military-police task force raided 18 targeted locations, including the Defense Intelligence Command and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

Officials are also investigating three active-duty soldiers and one intelligence agency staff member to “establish the full truth,” AFP quoted him as saying.

This raid took place after North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones to Pyongyang to steal information about “important targets” last January. The drone, they continued, also carried surveillance equipment.

However, North Korean troops managed to shoot down a drone thought to have been sent from Seoul.

This raid also occurred when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was trying to improve relations with North Korea.

Lee once said that flying a drone over North Korea was the same as shooting a bullet into the country. He even committed to eradicating such provocations and stated that he needed to apologize.

[Gambas:Video CNN]

“I feel like I should apologize, but I hesitate to say it out loud,” Lee said in December 2025.

He then said, “I’m afraid if I do, [permintaan maaf] it could be used as fuel for ideological battles or pro-northern accusations.”

South Korea initially denied being officially involved in the sense of involving the role of state institutions or bodies.

However, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong Young once hinted that the drone flight might involve government officials who are still loyal to former president Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yeol was impeached from the presidency last year following the declaration of martial law. Yoon’s party said this ousting was political.

(one/bac)

[Gambas:Video CNN]