Defense ministry seeks to reform role of drone command instead of abolishment | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday it will push to reform the Drone Operations Command into a military unit tasked with overseeing drone policy and education instead of its abolishment. The move is seen as a compromise after a special advisory committee tasked with reforming the military called on the ministry in January to scrap the command as part of a wider organizational reform following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in late 2024. This July 14, 2025, file photo shows the front gate of the Drone Operations Command in Pocheon, north of Seoul. (Yonhap) mlee@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defense ministry to tentatively halt budget execution of drone command over underperforming drones Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvement Defense chief urges reform of military intelligence commands following martial law (LEAD) Military advised to establish joint operations command to prepare for wartime control transfer Keywords #drone command Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N. Korea's national sports festival prev Defense ministry seeks to reform role of drone command instead of abolishment Next Defense ministry seeks to reform role of drone command instead of abolishment

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday it will push to reform the Drone Operations Command into a military unit tasked with overseeing drone policy and education instead of its abolishment.
The move is seen as a compromise after a special advisory committee tasked with reforming the military called on the ministry in January to scrap the command as part of a wider organizational reform following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in late 2024.
The ministry said it will seek to reform the command into one dedicated to advancing military drone concepts and policy as well as cooperation with the private sector amid efforts to strengthen the military's drone capabilities.
It also plans to disperse the command's operational functions across different military branches.
The drone command had been embroiled in allegations of sending drones over Pyongyang during Yoon's term in an apparent move to provoke the North and use it as a pretext for his short-lived imposition of martial law.
This July 14, 2025, file photo shows the front gate of the Drone Operations Command in Pocheon, north of Seoul. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
Defense ministry to tentatively halt budget execution of drone command over underperforming drones
Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvement
Defense chief urges reform of military intelligence commands following martial law
(LEAD) Military advised to establish joint operations command to prepare for wartime control transfer
Keywords
#drone command
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
(LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East
16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life
Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war
Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert
Most Saved
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
(LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East
16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life
(2nd LD) N. Korea fires ballistic missiles as S. Korea, U.S. conduct joint drills
Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war
Most Viewed
All Categories
Taiwan changes 'Korea' to 'S. Korea' in immigration system in protest over Seoul's labeling of it as China
N. Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses 'significant' threats to S. Korea, Japan: U.S. report
Trump raises idea of shifting responsibility for Hormuz Strait to countries using it
UAE pledges to supply crude oil to S. Korea with top priority: presidential aide
Central Seoul ward refurbishes streets, digital signs ahead of BTS concert
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's national sports festival
Montreal mayor gives interview
N.K. stamps on ruling party's 9th congress
N. Korea's national sports festival
prev
Defense ministry seeks to reform role of drone command instead of abolishment
Next
Defense ministry seeks to reform role of drone command instead of abolishment

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Korea committed to expanding nuclear, missile programs; poses 'significant' threats to S.

### Areas for Consideration
- This July 14, 2025, file photo shows the front gate of the Drone Operations Command in Pocheon, north of Seoul. (Yonhap) mlee@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defense ministry to tentatively halt budget execution of drone command over underperforming drones Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvement Defense chief urges reform of military intelligence commands following martial law (LEAD) Military advised to establish joint operations command to prepare for wartime control transfer Keywords #drone command Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N.

### Implications
- OK SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday it will push to reform the Drone Operations Command into a military unit tasked with overseeing drone policy and education instead of its abolishment.
- The move is seen as a compromise after a special advisory committee tasked with reforming the military called on the ministry in January to scrap the command as part of a wider organizational reform following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in late 2024.
- The ministry said it will seek to reform the command into one dedicated to advancing military drone concepts and policy as well as cooperation with the private sector amid efforts to strengthen the military's drone capabilities.
- This July 14, 2025, file photo shows the front gate of the Drone Operations Command in Pocheon, north of Seoul. (Yonhap) mlee@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defense ministry to tentatively halt budget execution of drone command over underperforming drones Ex-drone commander removed from office over martial law involvement Defense chief urges reform of military intelligence commands following martial law (LEAD) Military advised to establish joint operations command to prepare for wartime control transfer Keywords #drone command Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life Ex-U.S. officials voice concerns about Trump gov't 'vacating' deterrence assets from Indo-Pacific amid Iran war Police vow zero tolerance for terror threats against BTS comeback concert Most Saved Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (LEAD) FM Cho sidesteps questions on whether U.S. asked Seoul to send warships to Middle East 16th Gwangju Biennale: You must change your life (2nd LD) N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers drone, command, korea topics. Notable strengths include discussion of drone. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 527.