ISTANBUL

South Korea's top security body filed a case with police on Friday against 13 opposition lawmakers for falsely claiming that it had ordered drone flights inside North Korea last year.

The case was filed against Boo Seung-chan and 12 other lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) for allegedly violating the information and communications law, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

The lawmakers have "seriously" damaged the reputation of the country's National Security Council by spreading false information claiming that it ordered the Drone Operations Command to infiltrate Pyongyang with a drone and that National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik was directly involved in the matter, according to the presidential office.

The council accused Democratic Party lawmakers of lying when they claimed that the council had ordered the military to send drones across the border to North Korea.

In October, North Korea said the South Korean military had flown a drone over Pyongyang.

The council claimed that the allegations by opposition lawmakers damaged its reputation by “spreading false information.”

The military has maintained its stance of not confirming the alleged drone infiltration despite suspicions raised by the opposition bloc that the move was linked to preparations for President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition on Dec. 3, the news agency said.

The latest issue comes at a time when South Korea is embroiled in a political crisis triggered by short-lived martial law imposed by President Yoon Suk Yeol on the night of Dec. 3.