- Prosecutors investigating whether Yoon ordered dispatch of drones over Pyongyang last year in October to allegedly incite retaliation

ANKARA

Investigators on Wednesday questioned South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations that he attempted to impose martial law and ordered a "provocative" drone operation toward North Korea last year.

Yoon, who is currently detained, faced questioning at the office of Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, according to Yonhap News Agency.

However, he did not respond to any questions, exercising his right to remain silent.

His lawyer said Yoon had “stated his position fully during the first and second rounds of questioning with regard to key questions from the special counsel, and is refusing to testify in response to all further questions.”

Yoon, in a surprise move, imposed martial law on Dec. 3 last year but had to withdraw hours later after the National Assembly voted to repeal it. Prosecutors are investigating allegations against Yoon that he ordered the dispatch of drones to North Korea last year in October to allegedly incite its retaliation and use it as justification for his future declaration of martial law.

North Korea claimed last year that South Korean military flew a drone over Pyongyang, releasing a picture of one shot-down unmanned air vehicle. It had asked the International Civil Aviation Organization to investigate the alleged drone infiltration, which was rejected by the UN body in April this year.

Notably, the Yoon administration had refused to comment on whether or not Seoul dispatched a drone to Pyongyang.

Yoon is also facing charges of insurrection due to the martial law decree and has been detained since his second arrest on July 10.

Last month, Yoon filed a request for bail, but the court rejected it.

Since he imposed martial law last December, Yoon was detained a second time on July 10 and ignored summons on Sept. 24 and Sept. 30 to appear before prosecutors, and the latest was issued on Oct. 1.

In a related development, a court in Seoul on Wednesday rejected a warrant to arrest former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae over his alleged role in Yoon's failed imposition of martial law.