Opposition Lee Ki-heon Raises Suspicion of Provoking Localized Conflict
Former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun was alleged to have attempted to provoke a localized conflict between North and South Korea before the declaration of martial law, but the military authorities stated that they never received such orders.
On the 7th, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced to the Ministry of National Defense press corps, "The JCS has never received orders to 'strike the origin point'." A JCS official explained, "Since there was no order to strike the origin point during North Korea's release of trash balloons, the JCS Chairman never refused such an order."
Earlier, Lee Ki-heon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised related suspicions, claiming to have received a tip from a senior military official.
About a week before President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, then-Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun reportedly ordered JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo to strike the origin point of North Korea's trash balloon release. The implication was that this was an attempt to provoke a localized conflict between the two Koreas. However, Chairman Kim Myung-soo opposed such orders, and when JCS Operations Headquarters Chief Lee Seung-oh also opposed, Minister Kim was unable to carry out the action, according to the lawmaker's claim.
North Korea last released trash balloons four days before the martial law declaration, and if these claims are true, it has been pointed out that the martial law would have been declared more quickly due to the outbreak of a localized conflict.
A JCS official stated, "Our military frequently holds discussions on various operational situations."
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