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'Live Ammunition Boxes' Found Inside Vehicles Carrying Martial Law Troops

[비즈한국] BizHankook has secured a close-up photo of live ammunition boxes loaded inside a vehicle carrying martial law troops in front of the National Assembly in the early hours of the 4th, while emergency martial law was in effect.

The photo obtained by BizHankook from a reader shows the interior of a vehicle carrying martial law troops loaded with ammunition boxes. Marked on top of the boxes is an ownership label for 'Operation Team 1 (4 members),' along with text indicating 300 rounds of 5.56mm ball ammunition and 120 rounds of 9mm ball ammunition, as well as serial numbers. The photo was taken at approximately 1:00 AM on the 4th in front of the National Assembly, showing the inside of an SUV bearing ROK Army license plates.

During a plenary session of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on the 5th, Vice Minister of National Defense Kim Seon-ho replied to a question about whether live ammunition had been issued, stating, "After confirming with the Special Warfare Commander, no live ammunition was issued." However, looking at this photo, the possibility that live ammunition was issued to martial law troops cannot be ruled out.

In response, Kim Min-seok, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), stated, "Judging by the photo, it is a clear fact that they were carrying live ammunition up to the front of the National Assembly," but added, "As the seals do not appear to have been broken, it is not certain whether the ammunition was brought inside the National Assembly." Researcher Kim added, "Unless there are specific instructions, it is basic protocol for a 5-minute standby unit to carry live ammunition when deploying for emergency response."