Seoul, South Korea – November 10, 2025 – South Korea’s special prosecutor has formally indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on new charges, including aiding an enemy state and abuse of power, related to his short-lived declaration of martial law last year.

The indictment comes after a special investigation examined whether Yoon ordered drone flights over North Korea to provoke Pyongyang and justify martial law. Prosecutors allege these actions increased the risk of inter-Korean military confrontation.

“Yoon and others conspired to create conditions that would allow the declaration of emergency martial law, thereby increasing the risk of inter-Korean armed confrontation and harming public military interests,” said Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young.

Evidence and Allegations

Prosecutors cited a memo from Yoon’s former counter-intelligence commander dated October 2024, which urged targeting locations such as Pyongyang and Wonsan to provoke North Korea. The memo allegedly encouraged actions to create an unstable situation, giving Yoon grounds for emergency rule.

Yoon, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025, is already facing trials for insurrection and other charges linked to his martial law declaration. If convicted, he could face the death penalty, according to South Korean law.

Yoon’s Defense

The former president has consistently denied any intent to impose military rule, asserting that his martial law declaration aimed to alert the public to alleged opposition wrongdoing and protect democracy from what he called “antistate” elements.

South Korea and North Korea technically remain at war since the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, making actions that escalate tensions particularly sensitive.

“I never intended to impose military rule. My actions were meant to uphold democracy and warn against antistate threats,” Yoon said in previous statements.

The indictment adds another chapter to South Korea’s ongoing political turmoil and will be closely watched for its impact on regional stability.