South Korean army chief steps down

South Korean Army Chief General Hwang Eui-Don

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/155388.html


South Korean Army Chief General Hwang Eui-Don has stepped down over a controversy related to a property investment amid high tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's Defense Ministry says President Lee Myung-bak accepted Hwang's resignation, but there have been no comments on why he quit the post.

"Gen. Hwang offered to retire following media reports about his property investment because he judged it was inappropriate for him to stay on the post at a time when he has to lead the reform of the Army," an official at the Defense Ministry told Yonhap news agency on condition of anonymity.

"General Hwang decided to retire because he feels responsible for causing worries to the Army as a result of his personal matter," an army official said.

Hwang, named to the top army post in June, became embroiled in a controversy last week after he was found to have made huge profits from a property investment.

Hwang's resignation is considered a big blow to South Korea. The country's defense minister also resigned following an exchange of artillery fire between the two Koreas in November that left four South Koreans dead on a border island.

The November 23 artillery barrage, the North's first assault to target a civilian area since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, began after the North accused South Korea of having fired the salvo toward its territorial waters.

South Korea said it had fired shells southwards, not towards North Korea, as part of routine exercises.

After the attack, South Korea staged joint military drills with the United States and pushed ahead with more artillery exercises despite the North's warning that they would aggravate tension.

North Korea has warned that the cooperation between the United States and South Korea could bring a nuclear war to the already volatile Korean Peninsula.