Latest news with #Hankyoreh
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Probe targets alleged link between Mongolia operation, martial law
South Korea's special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials shortly before former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The special counsel suspects that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon to declare martial law. According to local daily Hankyoreh on Wednesday, two Korea Defense Intelligence Command officers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were deployed to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they attempted to approach the North Korean Embassy through Mongolian officials. They had been tasked with gathering intelligence on North Korea, and their mission report reportedly listed the North Korean Embassy as a target. The officers were detained by Mongolian intelligence authorities during the operation and were released after then-KDIC commander Gen. Moon Sang-ho traveled to Mongolia to request their release. Moon was suspended in December over his alleged involvement in the martial law plan. The KDIC has long been linked to the broader martial law scheme. However, no concrete evidence has been found to prove its direct involvement, apart from its ties to Noh Sang-won, who was arrested in December on charges of orchestrating the plan. Noh reportedly received a list of 46 intelligence officers from Gen. Moon in October 2024. A notebook seized from Noh contained phrases such as 'induce the North's attack at NLL' and 'waste balloon,' which investigators believe suggest attempts to fabricate a security crisis in the lead-up to the Dec. 3 declaration. If such intent from the KDIC is discovered through the special counsel investigation, officials responsible for the actions could be subject to charges of treason. Under Article 93 of the Criminal Act, treason refers to acts of colluding with foreign powers to initiate war or armed rebellion against the country. As of press time, the Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the investigation. When reports about the Mongolia operation first surfaced in late 2024, the ministry denied any connection between the trip and preparations for martial law. The investigation into the Mongolia operation is unfolding alongside suspicions of a similar effort to provoke the North: a drone mission carried out by the military in early October 2024. Testimony obtained by the special counsel indicates that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the Drone Operations Command to fly an unmanned aircraft toward North Korea in October 2024. According to transcripts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh testified that Kim personally directed the missions, rerouting drones to areas such as Nampo and regions north of the East Sea's Northern Limit Line. Military personnel testified that the drone flights took place on Oct. 3, 9 and 10. On Oct. 11, North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that South Korean drones had flown over Pyongyang and dropped anti-regime leaflets. The special counsel later sought an arrest warrant for former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae on charges of forging military documents to conceal the mission. However, the court rejected the request on Monday, citing insufficient grounds for detention. The investigation team is reviewing the court's decision and considering whether to refile the request.
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Special counsel looks into ties between covert operation in Mongolia, 2024 martial law
South Korea's special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials shortly before former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The special counsel suspects that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon to declare martial law. According to local daily Hankyoreh on Wednesday, two Korea Defense Intelligence Command officers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were deployed to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they attempted to approach the North Korean Embassy through Mongolian officials. They had been tasked with gathering intelligence on North Korea, and their mission report reportedly listed the North Korean Embassy as a target. The officers were detained by Mongolian intelligence authorities during the operation and were released after then-KDIC commander Gen. Moon Sang-ho traveled to Mongolia to request their release. Moon was suspended in December over his alleged involvement in the martial law plan. The KDIC has long been linked to the broader martial law scheme. However, no concrete evidence has been found to prove its direct involvement, apart from its ties to Noh Sang-won, who was arrested in December on charges of orchestrating the plan. Noh reportedly received a list of 46 intelligence officers from Gen. Moon in October 2024. A notebook seized from Noh contained phrases such as 'induce the North's attack at NLL' and 'waste balloon,' which investigators believe suggest attempts to fabricate a security crisis in the lead-up to the Dec. 3 declaration. If such intent from the KDIC is discovered through the special counsel investigation, officials responsible for the actions could be subject to charges of treason. Under Article 93 of the Criminal Act, treason refers to acts of colluding with foreign powers to initiate war or armed rebellion against the country. As of press time, the Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the investigation. When reports about the Mongolia operation first surfaced in late 2024, the ministry denied any connection between the trip and preparations for martial law. The investigation into the Mongolia operation is unfolding alongside suspicions of a similar effort to provoke the North: a drone mission carried out by the military in early October 2024. Testimony obtained by the special counsel indicates that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the Drone Operations Command to fly an unmanned aircraft toward North Korea in October 2024. According to transcripts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh testified that Kim personally directed the missions, rerouting drones to areas such as Nampo and regions north of the East Sea's Northern Limit Line. Military personnel testified that the drone flights took place on Oct. 3, 9 and 10. On Oct. 11, North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that South Korean drones had flown over Pyongyang and dropped anti-regime leaflets. The special counsel later sought an arrest warrant for former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae on charges of forging military documents to conceal the mission. However, the court rejected the request on Monday, citing insufficient grounds for detention. The investigation team is reviewing the court's decision and considering whether to refile the request.
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
From ‘VIP No 1' to suspect: how former South Korean first lady has fallen
Published: 2:40pm, 22 Jul 2025 Updated: 2:42pm, 22 Jul 2025 South Korea 's former first lady Kim Keon-hee has been formally summoned for questioning by a team of special prosecutors, marking a significant step forward in an expanding investigation into a raft of scandals tied to her and her husband, ousted former president Yoon Suk-yeol . Both Kim and Yoon were called in for separate questioning as 'suspects' under a parliament-mandated investigation, special prosecutors said on Monday. Yoon is set to appear next Tuesday, while Kim will face scrutiny on August 6, according to Assistant Special Prosecutor Moon Hong-joo. Kim's legal team has said she intends to cooperate, though they also indicate she may seek a postponement. 'Kim Keon-hee was widely believed to have exerted outsize influence over both her husband and state affairs, earning her the nickname 'VIP No 1',' Jung Suk-koo, former executive editor of the progressive Hankyoreh newspaper, told This Week in Asia. Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol after a hearing in Seoul on July 9. Photo: Newsis/Xinhua 'The fact that she is now being questioned suggests that momentum is building to finally expose the wrongdoings that plagued the Yoon administration.'
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Former South Korean first lady now a suspect in bribery scandal, summoned for questioning
South Korea 's former first lady Kim Keon-hee has been formally summoned for questioning by a team of special prosecutors, marking a significant step forward in an expanding investigation into a raft of scandals tied to her and her husband, ousted former president Yoon Suk-yeol Both Kim and Yoon were called in for separate questioning as 'suspects' under a parliament-mandated investigation, special prosecutors said on Monday. Yoon is set to appear next Tuesday, while Kim will face scrutiny on August 6, according to Assistant Special Prosecutor Moon Hong-joo. Kim's legal team has said she intends to cooperate, though they also indicate she may seek a postponement. 'Kim Keon-hee was widely believed to have exerted outsize influence over both her husband and state affairs, earning her the nickname 'VIP No 1',' Jung Suk-koo, former executive editor of the progressive Hankyoreh newspaper, told This Week in Asia. Former South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol after a hearing in Seoul on July 9. Photo: Newsis/Xinhua 'The fact that she is now being questioned suggests that momentum is building to finally expose the wrongdoings that plagued the Yoon administration.'
Mint
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Top South Korean Official in US Again as Tariff Deadline Looms
South Korea's national security adviser made a second trip to the US in under two weeks, as Seoul intensifies efforts to avert sweeping 25% tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline. Wi Sung-lac departed for the US 'to engage in various negotiations with US officials,' Woo Sang-ho, a senior presidential secretary, told reporters Sunday. 'This may not be the last time, and it could continue,' Woo said, adding that the top security official 'will visit the US whenever he deems it necessary for the overall negotiations.' While it remains unclear who Wi is scheduled to meet in Washington, the trip is widely viewed as a bid to bridge differences and finalize a trade agreement with the US, South Korea's biggest source of trade surplus. Talks have been delayed by months of political gridlock in Seoul, leaving South Korea racing to catch up on lost negotiating time. The US is preparing to impose 25% across-the-board tariffs on South Korean goods starting Aug. 1, up from the current 10%. In addition, sector-specific duties targeting cars, steel, and aluminum remain in place. President Lee Jae Myung's new ministers for foreign affairs, finance and industry took office Monday after winning rare bipartisan support amid growing concerns over a lack of a deal. The main opposition People Power Party said they approved Lee's picks because the US tariff negotiations could no longer be delayed with the country's economy hinging on the talks' results. Wi said South Korea's goal is to lower the tariffs by some percentage points, local media Hankyoreh reported citing Wi's comments before his departure. Newly appointed Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol are also arranging a US visit, Yonhap News said. The diplomatic push comes as the Lee administration rolled out a 31.8 trillion won supplementary budget to bolster growth and mitigate trade-related risks. South Korea's economy contracted in the first quarter, and the central bank has cut interest rates to 2.5% while slashing its growth forecast to 0.8%. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
