Court extends arrests of ex-defense minister, ex-commander over drone deployment

A court on Wednesday issued warrants to extend the arrests of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung over charges related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrants at the request of a special counsel team that investigated various suspicions connected to the December 2024 martial law attempt. Kim's arrest had been set to expire Thursday, while Yeo's had been set to end Jan. 2. In granting the request, the court cited concerns the suspects would destroy evidence. By law, the maximum period of arrest for a first instance trial is six months, but it can be extended if a defendant is indicted on additional charges. Both Kim and Yeo, who have been held in custody since last December over their roles in the martial law plan, were additionally indicted last month on charges of aiding the enemy and power abuse for allegedly ordering the dispatch of drones to Pyongyang around October 2024. The dispatch, according to the team, was aimed at inciting the North's