Korean National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho said Thursday that the police blockade at the National Assembly shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law happened at the orders of martial law commander Park An-su.

During an emergency session of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, Cho said Park gave the order around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cho said he initially refused to comply because he did not think there were legal grounds to do so.

However, after reviewing the contents of the emergency martial law decree, Cho ordered the deployment of the Seoul Metropolitan Police to fully control access to the National Assembly.

When asked if banning the entry of lawmakers and making it impossible to exercise the power of the National Assembly amounted to a criminal offense and a violation of the Constitution, the police chief said the actions were taken in accordance with the emergency martial law decree and did not constitute treason.