New intelligence unit to be set up on Sept. 1
By Lee Min-hyung
The defense ministry launched a special taskforce Monday dedicated to establishing a new military intelligence unit in the wake of Cheong Wa Dae's order to disband the scandal-ridden Defense Security Command (DSC) and build an alternative organization with limited privilege.
As of Monday, the Ministry of National Defense formed the 21-member preparatory committee — headed by new DSC head Nam Young-sin — under the goal of setting up and launching the new organization on Sept. 1.
"The primary mission for the taskforce is to define functions and roles of the new security command, and carry out a complete personnel reshuffle," a ministry official said. "The team will work toward early establishment of the new intelligence unit."
The ministry said a legal basis supporting the launch of the new unit will take effect after a Cabinet meeting slated for Aug. 14. The ministry has yet to confirm details on the unit's management roadmap, as the reorganization drive is in its infancy.
According to the ministry, the new organization will have limited authority in order to prevent the unit from abusing its power in private sectors. Under the new legal guidelines, major tasks, conducted by the new unit, will include information collection and criminal investigation within the military.
The new organization has been renamed as the "Defense Security Support Command."
The planned establishment of the new security command came in response to the presidential house's decision to dismantle the scandal-tainted intelligence unit and recreate a "whole new" organization that cannot engage in any political interference activities.
The DSC has been dismantled after it was revealed that the unit laid out a contingency plan to declare martial law last year.
A 67-page military document showed that the military prepared plans to mobilize armed forces if the Constitutional Court rejected former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment.
With the scandal making headlines here, President Moon instructed Defense Minister Song Young-moo to launch an independent investigation team to delve into who masterminded the plot.
Lieutenant General Nam, since taking office last week, expressed his strong willingness to carry out a large-scale reshuffle of the security command, seeking to make it a more transparent organization.
Nothing has been confirmed over how the organizational structure of the new security command will be formed.
But expectations are it will come with limited authority and privilege to follow orders from the President Moon.
Meanwhile, the military is investigating those who are involved in drawing up the document. They include former Defense Minister Han Min-koo and then-DSC chief Cho Hyun-chun.
On Sunday, a military-civil investigation team confiscated homes of the two then-ranking military officials.
By Lee Min-hyung
The defense ministry launched a special taskforce Monday dedicated to establishing a new military intelligence unit in the wake of Cheong Wa Dae's order to disband the scandal-ridden Defense Security Command (DSC) and build an alternative organization with limited privilege.
As of Monday, the Ministry of National Defense formed the 21-member preparatory committee — headed by new DSC head Nam Young-sin — under the goal of setting up and launching the new organization on Sept. 1.
"The primary mission for the taskforce is to define functions and roles of the new security command, and carry out a complete personnel reshuffle," a ministry official said. "The team will work toward early establishment of the new intelligence unit."
The ministry said a legal basis supporting the launch of the new unit will take effect after a Cabinet meeting slated for Aug. 14. The ministry has yet to confirm details on the unit's management roadmap, as the reorganization drive is in its infancy.
According to the ministry, the new organization will have limited authority in order to prevent the unit from abusing its power in private sectors. Under the new legal guidelines, major tasks, conducted by the new unit, will include information collection and criminal investigation within the military.
The new organization has been renamed as the "Defense Security Support Command."
The planned establishment of the new security command came in response to the presidential house's decision to dismantle the scandal-tainted intelligence unit and recreate a "whole new" organization that cannot engage in any political interference activities.
The DSC has been dismantled after it was revealed that the unit laid out a contingency plan to declare martial law last year.
A 67-page military document showed that the military prepared plans to mobilize armed forces if the Constitutional Court rejected former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment.
With the scandal making headlines here, President Moon instructed Defense Minister Song Young-moo to launch an independent investigation team to delve into who masterminded the plot.
Lieutenant General Nam, since taking office last week, expressed his strong willingness to carry out a large-scale reshuffle of the security command, seeking to make it a more transparent organization.
Nothing has been confirmed over how the organizational structure of the new security command will be formed.
But expectations are it will come with limited authority and privilege to follow orders from the President Moon.
Meanwhile, the military is investigating those who are involved in drawing up the document. They include former Defense Minister Han Min-koo and then-DSC chief Cho Hyun-chun.
On Sunday, a military-civil investigation team confiscated homes of the two then-ranking military officials.
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