Seoul: The defense ministry announced plans to revamp the counterintelligence command, limiting its duties to counterespionage activities following its alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful martial law initiative in December.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Defense Counterintelligence Command, which is responsible for military intelligence with a concentration on anti-espionage, will see a reduction in its responsibilities. The command will now focus exclusively on counterintelligence, with its investigation and security operations shifted to other agencies as part of the reform.

The overhaul follows accusations that the command had a significant role in executing Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3, which reportedly involved deploying troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission.

Under the new reforms, the command's investigative powers will be transferred to the ministry's Criminal Investigation Command, while its security responsibilities will be moved to the Defense Intelligence Agency.