“Chungampa secret meeting, only once… “Customary gathering”
“There is no order from the Ministry of Defense to dispatch to Ukraine… “8,400 book hackers”
On the 30th, the Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command (Counterintelligence) under the Ministry of National Defense drew a line regarding the martial law suspicions raised by some in the opposition, saying, “There is no reason or need to review.”
On this day, the National Assembly Intelligence Committee conducted a government audit targeting counterintelligence and the Armed Forces Cyber Command at the National Assembly.
Park Seon-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and the opposition party secretary on the Intelligence Committee, said, “Commander Yeo In-hyeong of the ROK Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command said of martial law, ‘I understand it as an issue that is naturally promoted in the process of transitioning to war.’”
However, during the questioning process, there was a controversy regarding martial law as it was said that ‘if public order is disturbed, not in times of war, the President may carry out appropriate duties (martial law) according to orders issued through the State Affairs Commission.’
Rep. Park pointed out that it would be better to have an opportunity to revise the position (on this) by making a comprehensive statement based on the domestic political situation, such as ‘when the security order is disturbed’ rather than ‘when the transition to wartime’ occurs. “The counterintelligence commander modified his statement regarding the part about ‘if security order is disturbed’ and said that he only thought about martial law in the event of a wartime transition.”
Commander Yeo also explained the suspicion of a ‘secret meeting held at the official residence of the head of the National Security Agency’ among Chungampa figures. The opposition party raised suspicions that Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min visited the Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command early this year and had a secret meeting with generals from Chungam High School, where President Yoon Seok-yeol graduated, the so-called ‘Chungampa’, to discuss martial law.
According to People’s Power Party lawmaker Lee Seong-kwon, the ruling party’s secretary on the Intelligence Committee, Commander Yeo said of the meeting, “Since the 1980s, heads of security-related organizations have been meeting to exchange information, but there has been no such meeting recently,” and “The last meeting was held by Shin Won-sik, the current security office.” “Since Jang also served as the Commander of the Defense Forces, he told Kim Yong-hyeon, then Chief of the National Security Agency, that it would be good to hold such an encouragement meeting based on his past experience, so we held one meeting in the spring of this year,” he said.
He continued, “Because it was a customary meeting, it can be said that there was no special political intervention or martial law-related discussion,” and emphasized, “It is not for the purpose of gathering in a conspiratorial manner to plan or plan something.”
The counterintelligence commander also drew a line regarding the dispatch to Ukraine, saying, “There was no order from the Ministry of National Defense.” He said, “The counterintelligence agency is also reviewing various possibilities at an internal level, but that does not necessarily mean dispatching them.”
The Cyber Operations Command said, “There are cyber threats from North Korea and cyber threats from third countries. In particular, in the case of North Korea, it is estimated that about 8,400 hackers are organized and operated under the North Korean military high command and the State Affairs Commission.” He said.
He added, “In the case of North Korea, activities are carried out with the purpose of stealing military secrets from the military and stealing money to secure funds for weapons development.”
However, he said, “The number of hacking cases in North Korea increased to about 9,000 in 2022, 13,000 in 2023, and 10,500 by September of this year, but we have prevented any damage in advance to prevent any damage over the past five years.”
Regarding the question about hackers in other countries, the cyber commander responded, “I heard that the United States has about 6,000 cyber hackers, China has about 100,000, and Russia has about 200,000 cyber hackers.”
He continued, “We are concerned that North Korea may pose a cyber threat targeting us in connection with cyber attacks from third countries, and we are constantly prepared for this.”
(Seoul = News 1)
Title: Unpacking the Controversy: A Dialogue with Defense Expert Dr. Min-jun Park
Interviewer (Time.News Editor): Good morning, Dr. Park. Thank you for joining us today. Recent events in South Korea regarding the allegations of a secret meeting among military figures and the discussion of martial law have certainly stirred public interest. What’s your initial take on this situation?
Dr. Min-jun Park (Defense Expert): Good morning! It’s a pleasure to be here. The situation is quite complex. The accusations surrounding the so-called “Chungampa meeting” raise serious concerns not only about national defense protocols but also about the political dynamics at play. The timing and nature of these meetings demand scrutiny, especially when martial law discussions are on the table.
Interviewer: Absolutely. The report mentions that Commander Yeo In-hyeong clarified that there’s no current order from the Ministry of Defense for martial law, yet the dialogue surrounding it seems to persist. Why do you think there’s such a heightened focus on martial law at this juncture?
Dr. Park: Well, South Korea is no stranger to discussions about martial law, particularly given its historical context. The idea of transitioning to wartime or enacting martial law can evoke strong emotions, particularly considering past military regimes. The current political climate, where opposition parties are keen to examine government actions closely, adds to the scrutiny. There is also a genuine concern regarding public order amid regional tensions, hence the interest in such extraordinary measures.
Interviewer: That makes sense. The article mentions contention over the definition of conditions under which martial law could be triggered. Rep. Park Seon-won suggested a more nuanced approach to defining “security disturbances.” Do you believe this could be a critical point of contention moving forward?
Dr. Park: Definitely. The ambiguity around what constitutes a “disturbance of public order” leaves a lot of room for interpretation, which can be politically dangerous. If the threshold isn’t clear, it may lead to the potential for abuse of power. It’s crucial for legislators to provide a clear framework that both respects civil liberties and allows for necessary security measures.
Interviewer: Speaking of the political fallout, the article touches on accusations of a secret meeting that allegedly aimed to discuss martial law, which the Defense Command denies was politically motivated. How important is transparency in these types of interactions within the military?
Dr. Park: Transparency is absolutely vital. The military has to maintain public trust, and secretive meetings can quickly erode that trust. As Commander Yeo pointed out, the meeting was framed as customary – a tradition of professional exchange. However, any meeting that taps into the potential for martial law discussion must be open to public scrutiny to alleviate fears of conspiratorial agendas.
Interviewer: There are many layers to unpack here, indeed. How do you see this situation evolving? Will the calls for more rigorous oversight and clarity in military engagements continue?
Dr. Park: I think this will evolve into a significant dialogue within the National Assembly regarding military oversight and the political relationship between the military and civilian authorities. There will likely be growing calls for reform to ensure that everything is above board, especially if the opposition continues to challenge the ruling party on these points. How the government addresses these questions now could set important precedents for the future.
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Park. It’s clear that the implications of these events extend far beyond the military itself and into the very framework of governance in South Korea.
Dr. Park: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial for the public to stay informed and engaged, as these discussions will shape the landscape of South Korean democracy and security policy moving forward.
Interviewer: Absolutely. We look forward to seeing how this story unfolds. Thank you once again, Dr. Park.
Dr. Park: My pleasure.