▲ A graduate student accused of sending drones to North Korea arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in the capital on Feb. 26, 2026, to attend his arrest warrant hearing. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) suspect-NK drone

(LEAD) Suspect in drone flights to N. Korea attends arrest warrant hearing

(ATTN: UPDATES with suspect's alleged remarks, other details; CHANGES photo)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Yonhap) -- A graduate student accused of sending drones to North Korea denied the main charges against him during a hearing on his potential arrest Thursday, legal sources said.

The 30-something student, surnamed Oh, faces charges of benefiting the enemy and violating aviation safety and military installation laws by flying drones to North Korea four times from September to January.

The incident became known after Pyongyang claimed last month that South Korea had infringed on its sovereignty with drone incursions in September and January.

During the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Oh claimed he was not directed by anyone to send the drones, denying suspicions of links to the military intelligence command.

The charge of benefiting the enemy also applies to cases where the military interests of one's own nation are harmed, and Oh's claim appeared aimed at disputing the notion that he harmed South Korea's military interests by stoking tensions with the North.

A military-police investigation task force requested a warrant for his arrest last week after concluding he had flown the drones to test their performance for a drone business.

The aircraft were set up to depart from Ganghwa Island in Incheon, west of Seoul, and fly over North Korea's Kaesong and Pyongsan before returning to Paju, northwest of Seoul, it said.

The task force has been investigating seven people in connection with the drone flights, including Oh, those allegedly involved in the aircraft's production, and military and spy agency officials.

Last month, President Lee Jae Myung ordered a strict joint investigation by the military and the police following suspicions of a civilian's involvement in the drone operations.

The Unification Ministry later unveiled measures to prevent a recurrence, prompting Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to express her appreciation for the plan.

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