Reports have surfaced that the South Korean military’s psychological warfare unit allegedly distributed anti-North Korean leaflets without notifying higher command prior to the December 3 emergency martial law declaration.
According to the Ministry of National Defense on Friday, the investigation team, acting on orders from Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, conducted a field inspection of psychological warfare units in the West Sea islands and western front areas on Monday. The team also summoned current and former unit commanders (colonels) who were on duty during the period in question to ascertain the facts.
The allegations were initially raised by The Hankyoreh, based on testimony from a former soldier who served in the psychological warfare unit. The report claimed that the unit had distributed anti-North Korean leaflets more than ten times between October 2023 and early December 2023, preceding North Korea’s balloon propaganda campaign that began in May 2024.
Sources indicate that Minister Ahn promptly ordered the Defense Ministry’s investigation team to probe these allegations following the news report.