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 sentenced a 30-year-old graduate student, identified as Oh, to an eight-month suspended sentence and two others to six-month suspended sentences, both with two years of probation.

They were charged with violating the Aviation Safety Act for sending drones across the inter-Korean border four times between September last year and January. Two of the drones lost contact and crashed in North Korea, leading Pyongyang to release statements criticizing Seoul after examining the wreckage, flight logs, and video footage.

The court ruled them guilty of operating drones weighing over 2 kilograms, the limit necessitating prior reporting to the land ministry, without completing the required procedure. Research drones used for testing or study are exempt from the mandatory reporting.