Top defense and Army officials say they either opposed orders related to Yoon’s martial law decree or were unaware of them. 

Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho told the parliamentary defense committee on Thursday that it was former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun who gave the order to deploy martial law troops to the National Assembly.

During the parliamentary committee’s emergency inquiry on the martial law situation, the vice minister said he fundamentally opposed and expressed negative opinions about the deployment of troops to enforce martial law, regardless of whether it was unconstitutional from a legal perspective. 

The vice minister added that the martial law document submitted to a Cabinet meeting was not produced by the defense ministry.

Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who was appointed as the leader of the martial law command Tuesday night, said he found out after the fact that Yoon had declared martial law, learning of the president’s televised address during a meeting of top commanders.

Park also claimed he did not order the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.