Ex-defense minister ordered deployment of troops to Nat'l Assembly during martial law
Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho responds to lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 5. Yonhap
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered troops to infiltrate the National Assembly and block lawmakers from entering the compound during martial law, vice defense minister said Thursday.
Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho made the remark in response to a lawmaker's question in a parliamentary session, as South Korea is reeling from the aftermath of the turmoil triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's aborted declaration of martial law late Tuesday.
The martial law imposition lasted for six hours before it was rescinded by an Assembly vote to demand Yoon's withdrawal of the order.
The presidential office said Thursday that Yoon accepted the resignation of the former defense chief, who proposed the martial law declaration to Yoon.
"I once again express my deepest apologies to the people," Vice Minister Kim said. "Personally, I feel devastated, very sad and distressed."
Kim said he had opposed the troop deployment to implement the martial law and as vice defense minister, he had failed to identify what was coming and prevent it in advance.
"I fully acknowledge my responsibility for this and will take full accountability," Kim said.
Kim said he learned about the martial law declaration through news reports.
In response to a question by Rep. Cho Kuk of the minor opposition Korea Rebuilding Party, Kim said he "does not agree" to describing the Assembly as "a den of criminals," — an expression Yoon used during his televised announcement on the martial law declaration.
A military vehicle is surrounded by people and police officers outside the National Assembly compound, Seoul, Dec. 4. Yonhap
Asked about who wrote the martial law decree, Kim said that he cannot confirm the name, but it did not come from the defense ministry.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who was named the martial law commander, said he also became aware of the martial law declaration when he watched Yoon's speech on TV.
"I fully understood it at the subsequent meeting of all military commanders (following the president's speech)," Park said.
Park told lawmakers that he had suggested a legal review of the martial law decree before announcing it to the public, but Kim, the former defense chief, told him that it was all done.
Park also claimed that he did not know whether the troops sent to the Assembly were given live rounds, insisting that he did not even know the troops had been deployed. (Yonhap)