3 civilians get suspended prison terms for flying drones into N. Korea

Three civilians received suspended prison sentences on Wednesday for flying drones into North Korea without authorization, while being acquitted of aiding the enemy charges. The Seoul Central District Court handed down sentences of eight months, suspended for two years, to a 30-year-old graduate student named Oh, and six months, also suspended for two years, to two others.

The charges stemmed from the civilians flying drones across the inter-Korean border four times between September last year and January, in an attempt to film North Korea. Two of the drones did not return and crashed in North Korean territory, leading Pyongyang to release statements criticizing Seoul after examining the wreckage, flight logs, and video footage.

The court found the civilians guilty of operating drones weighing over 2 kilograms, the limit that requires prior reporting to the land ministry without which they were in violation of the Aviation Safety Act. The court noted that drones used for research or testing purposes are exempt from the mandatory reporting requirement.