2 senior JCS officials removed from office over martial law involvement: sources

▲ This file photo, taken May 1, 2024, shows Lt. Gen. Jeong Jin-pal, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Yonhap)

JCS officials-disciplinary actions

2 senior JCS officials removed from office over martial law involvement: sources

SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- Two senior Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) officials were removed from duties Wednesday in disciplinary action over their involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid in late 2024, military sources said.

The defense ministry handed down the disciplinary measures against Lt. Gen. Jeong Jin-pal, former vice chairman of the JCS, who served as deputy martial law commander, and Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh, former chief director of operations at the JCS.

Jeong is accused of aiding Park An-su, who served as the martial law commander, and Lee is believed to have been involved in the drone operation to Pyongyang as the former chief director of operations at the JCS.

The ministry also reportedly ordered a two-month suspension for Lt. Gen. Won Cheon-hee, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, according to the sources. Won is suspected of allegedly discussing plans to impose martial law with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun a day before Yoon imposed the decree on Dec. 3, 2024.

Without disclosing the level of punishment, the defense ministry said it has imposed "heavy" disciplinary action on the three officials.

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