Busan: Two Chinese nationals have been sentenced in South Korea for repeatedly filming a naval base in the southeastern city of Busan using drones and mobile phones, local media reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Busan District Court found the two defendants, aged in their 40s and 30s, guilty of illegally recording the Busan naval base on nine occasions between March 2023 and June 2024. One of the defendants received an 18-month prison sentence, while the other was handed a one-year suspended prison term.

The final incident occurred on June 25, 2024, when drones were flown over the base during a visit by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was inspecting the US aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt docked at the facility. The older defendant was convicted of benefiting the enemy, and both were found guilty of violating South Korea’s Military Bases and Installations Protection Act.

The court revealed that both individuals were studying in South Korea at the time of the offenses. “The defendants caused significant danger to the military interests of the Republic of Korea by exposing information related to military installations,” the court stated. However, it was noted that the photos and footage did not appear to have been shared with hostile states or organizations.