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South Korea Launches Martial Law Probe: Why a Secret Drone Mission Raises Questions

South Korea's defence ministry is taking over the investigation into a controversial martial law bid. They're launching their own special unit next week to dig deeper into the allegations. This comes as an independent counsel's probe into the matter is about to expire. The case involves serious accusations, including that the military sent drones into North Korea to create a pretext for imposing martial law.

Key Points: South Korea Defence Ministry Launches Martial Law Investigation Unit

  • A 40-member investigative unit will launch next week led by the ministry's acting prosecution chief
  • The team will follow up on probes into the failed martial law bid from December last year
  • The military's drone command is accused of sending drones over Pyongyang to provoke North Korea
  • The defence ministry has dismissed the former head of the Drone Operations Command from office
2 min read

South Korea's Defence ministry to launch investigative unit for martial law probe next week

South Korea's defence ministry forms a special team to investigate allegations surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid and drone operations.

"Based on the outcome of a probe by the ministry's audit office and the special counsel team, it will conduct necessary follow-up investigations. - Defence Ministry via Yonhap"

Seoul, Dec 11

South Korea's defence ministry said on Thursday it will launch next week its own special investigative unit to look into allegations surrounding former ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid.

The 40-member team, which will set sail Monday, will be led by the acting chief of the ministry's prosecution office, according to the ministry.

"Based on the outcome of a probe by the ministry's audit office and the special counsel team, it will conduct necessary follow-up investigations," the ministry said, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The move comes as special counsel Cho Eun-suk's investigation team, which has been looking into insurrection and treason charges regarding the martial law imposition on Dec. 3 last year, will see its mandate end Sunday.

The military's drone command faces allegations of sending drones over Pyongyang during Yoon's presidency in an apparent move to provoke the North and use it as a pretext for his imposition of martial law. A military propaganda unit is also suspected of having secretly sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea for a similar purpose.

On Wednesday, the ministry formally dismissed the former head of the Drone Operations Command.

The defence ministry said it has dismissed the head of the military's drone command from office over a special counsel probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law imposition.

Kim Yong-dae, former head of the Drone Operations Command, is suspected of being involved in sending drones over Pyongyang during Yoon's term in an apparent move to provoke the North and use it as a pretext for his imposition of martial law on December 3 last year.

He was indicted last month without physical detention on charges of obstructing official duties and soliciting the drafting of false official documents by a special counsel team that also charged Yoon over allegations of sending the drones.

In another dismissal of a senior official, the ministry said it also had dismissed from office Kim Dong-hyuk, the former chief of the defence ministry's prosecution office, as of Tuesday.

Kim was indicted by a special counsel team over his involvement in a cover-up case related to the 2023 death of a young Marine.

int/akl/sd

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Sending drones to provoke a neighbor? That's incredibly reckless. The region doesn't need more tension. India has always advocated for peaceful dialogue on the Korean peninsula. This kind of action by a former president is shocking.
P
Priya S
The article mentions a cover-up related to a Marine's death as well. This shows a pattern. When leaders try to use the military for political gains, it erodes public trust. A strong lesson for all democracies, including ours. 🇮🇳
V
Vikram M
While the investigation is necessary, I hope it doesn't become a political witch hunt. Sometimes these probes are used to settle scores. The focus should be on reforming systems to prevent such misuse in the future, not just punishing individuals.
R
Rohit P
Interesting to see how another Asian democracy handles a crisis. The 40-member team sounds substantial. Hope their findings are transparent. In our country, we've seen how important accountability is for national security.
K
Karthik V
The timing is crucial with the special counsel's mandate ending. They need a seamless transition to avoid losing evidence or momentum. A botched martial law bid is no joke—it threatens the very foundation of a democratic state. Wishing them luck.

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