Seoul: The defense ministry announced the dismissal of the military's drone command chief due to a special counsel investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempted imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yong-dae, the former head of the Drone Operations Command, is implicated in deploying drones over Pyongyang during Yoon's administration. This action was allegedly intended to provoke North Korea and justify the imposition of martial law on December 3 of the previous year.

Kim Yong-dae was indicted last month without physical detention. He faces charges of obstructing official duties and soliciting the creation of false official documents. A special counsel team, which also indicted Yoon, is handling these allegations concerning the deployment of drones.

In a related development, the ministry also announced the dismissal of Kim Dong-hyuk, the former chief of the defense ministry's prosecution office. His dismissal, effective as of Tuesday, is linked to his indictment by a special counsel team for involvement in a cover-up case concerning the 2023 death of a young Marine.