South Korea suspends 1st Corps commander over ammo directive, drone incident

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday the suspension of the commander of the 1st Corps, a key unit responsible for the western front line. The decision follows an ongoing review and investigation into recent matters concerning the corps.

Sources indicate the commander is under scrutiny for a directive issued earlier this year. This directive reportedly instructed frontline guard posts to keep heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers unloaded, with ammunition stored separately. This measure was intended to prevent accidental discharges. However, the suspension suggests a deeper examination of command decisions and operational protocols.

Adding to the concerns, the 1st Corps was involved in an incident on June 30 where it nearly shot down a reconnaissance drone belonging to the U.S. Marine Corps. The drone was mistaken for an unidentified flying object during a joint South Korea-U.S. training exercise. This near-miss incident has raised questions about situational awareness and identification procedures within the corps.

In the interim, the commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command will assume the duties of the 1st Corps commander. The Ministry of National Defense has not provided further details regarding the specific findings of the investigation but emphasized the temporary nature of the command change.