It is unclear whether the guns were unloaded as the military claims. The Army’s Capital Defence Command said that its soldiers were sent into the parliament without ammunition. - AFP
SEOUL: Troops mobilised under the Dec 3 martial law decree brought with them thousands of rounds of live ammunition for their operations, reports revealed on Dec 17.
The 707th Special Missions Group of the Army’s Special Warfare Command brought 3,960 live ammunition rounds, 1,980 blank rounds and 100 cartridges for stun guns when they were deployed to the National Assembly, the National Election Commission and other areas across Seoul on the night of Dec 3 and 4.
It was also reported by local broadcaster MBC that troops from the Army’s Capital Defence Command (CDC), also deployed to the parliament, took over 5,000 live ammunition rounds along with some 3,000 blanks.
Kim Seon-ho, the vice-defence minister and the acting defence minister, had told the parliament on Dec 5 that no live ammunition was distributed to the soldiers. When the ministry was questioned about the matter, it said the bullets were transported to the various sites but not distributed to individual soldiers.
The CDC also said that its soldiers were sent into the parliament without ammunition.
It is unclear whether the guns were unloaded as the military claims. Some of the soldiers deployed at the parliament were filmed pointing their guns at the people there, but no shots were fired. - The Korea Herald/ANN
