The Pentagon maintains the removal of the commanding general of U.S. special forces in Korea last week had nothing to do with him reportedly speaking about clandestine operations in North Korea.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Monday that U.S. Special Operations Commander Brigadier General Neil Tolley's removal was not due to his public remarks last month about some of his troops secretly operating in North Korea on spy missions.

After coming under fire for his comments, Tolley said he should have been more clear and was only speaking hypothetically. He has not been assigned to any other post at this time.

The Pentagon announced a list of general officer assignments last Friday and Tolley was replaced by Brigadier General Eric Wendt in the reshuffle. Wendt is the deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.