The Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it reprimanded five top military officials who failed to report exchanges of radio contacts with a North Korean ship when it violated the western sea border in recent weeks. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has reportedly issued written reprimands to two general-grade officers and oral reprimands to three colonel-level officers. The reprimands were carried out in line with orders by President Roh, who told the ministry to impose "light" disciplinary measures on those accountable in the incident in a bid to avoid prolonging the controversy. Meanwhile on Tuesday, Defense Minister Cho Young-kil announced his intent to resign, following a similar announcement on Monday by the top JCS intelligence analyst.