Lee Jong-seok, director of the National Intelligence Service, attends a parliamentary inquiry session at the National Assembly in Seoul. Photo by Asia Today
April 5 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s intelligence agency faced renewed scrutiny over political neutrality after its former and current chiefs made conflicting appearances the same day, highlighting long-standing concerns about the agency’s role across administrations.
Former National Intelligence Service chief Cho Tae-yong was recommended for a seven-year prison sentence during a court hearing on charges including illegal political involvement and dereliction of duty, according to prosecutors.
Cho is accused of failing to report plans related to a Dec. 3 martial law declaration and attempting to conceal the situation to prevent the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
In his final statement, Cho denied wrongdoing, saying the agency “did nothing shameful” in relation to the situation. Prosecutors, however, argued the case represented a serious breach of constitutional order, accusing the intelligence service of being used to protect the leadership.
On the same day, current NIS Director Lee Jong-seok appeared before a National Assembly inquiry and raised allegations about the previous administration’s handling of a case involving alleged financial transfers to North Korea.
Lee said an internal review found signs that the agency may have tried to influence a prosecution investigation. He alleged that only selected documents were shared with prosecutors, potentially excluding materials that could have offered a broader perspective.
The developments marked a rare moment in which a former intelligence chief faced criminal charges while the sitting director publicly criticized actions taken under a previous administration.
Observers say the episode underscores a recurring pattern in South Korea, where intelligence leadership becomes entangled in political disputes during transitions of power.
Experts called for stronger institutional safeguards to ensure the agency’s independence from political influence, warning that repeated controversies risk undermining trust and encouraging risk-averse behavior among officials.
WASHINGTON — Merely two weeks had passed since the Iran war began when Gen. Randy George, the Army’s highest-ranking officer, began sounding an alarm.
Touring a weapons depot in North Carolina, George warned lawmakers present that the conflict’s vast and ever-growing list of targets was straining U.S. capacity — “depleting our stockpiles faster than we can replace them,” as one congressman recalled. Since assuming Army leadership, George had made it his mission to strengthen the nation’s industrial base in anticipation of precisely this moment, when the United States would be engaged in a major war with a formidable adversary.
On Thursday, in a brief phone call, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired George. No reason was given, a U.S. official familiar with the matter told The Times.
The forced departure of George in the middle of a war created yet another blow to morale inside the Pentagon, where multiple officials expressed dismay over the state of the department’s leadership. Over the last year, Hegseth has fired five sitting members of the joint chiefs of staff, with only two holdovers remaining in their posts.
“Whenever you have a change in leadership, military or otherwise, there is bound to be some churn in information management,” one U.S. official said, granted anonymity to speak candidly. “So what you’re doing, in the middle of a war, as we are taking U.S. casualties, is you’re taking out the general in charge of making sure the right people and equipment are flowing into the Middle East.”
Inside the building, officials believe that Hegseth’s next target is Dan Driscoll, the Army secretary and an ally to President Trump. Driscoll has been seen by Hegseth’s aides as outshining the Defense secretary on prominent policy initiatives.
Gen. Randy George, U.S. Army chief of staff, speaks with soldiers during training exercises at Lightning Academy at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu on Nov. 10, 2025.
(Christopher Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It is a purge that Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill fear could have tangible, detrimental effects on the war effort. Sens. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Joni Ernst of Iowa, all members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have expressed private concerns over George’s firing, a second U.S. official said.
Forcing out Army leadership responsible for training and equipping its soldiers, and for ensuring weapons stockpiles continue to meet demand, risks bureaucratic chaos and despair in the ranks at a time when the Trump administration is openly considering a ground operation in Iran.
Others in the Pentagon have raised concern over the U.S. military stockpile, including Air Force Secretary Troy Meink, who last month warned at a defense conference that munitions shortages were a concern even before the war began.
“It was something that we were concerned about even before the operation,” Meink said. “It has just been the fact that we couldn’t see the threat evolving and what we’re facing. So we definitely have to improve on that.”
Trump has denied that the United States faces weapons shortages, even after meeting with the nation’s top contractors last month in a push for them to increase — and on some products, quadruple — their output.
“What interceptors we have for Iran is because of Randy George,” the first U.S. official countered. “He continued to work that problem set up through [Thursday]. It’s a problem set he was working in real time.”
Jerry McGinn, director of the Center for the Industrial Base at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said U.S. forces have reached a stage in the war where they can pivot away from standoff weapons systems. With Iran’s air defenses largely degraded, they can instead rely on weapons such as laser-guided bombs, helping ease pressure on stockpiles.
But Iran’s downing of two U.S. aircraft on Friday suggests that longer-range weapons may still be necessary.
“When the stockpile is stressed, as it was after Ukraine and then now with Iran, any surge in need leads to a backlog as they try to replenish,” McGinn said.
“The three things they’ve been using a whole lot of are Tomahawks, [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] and Patriots, and those inventories were already somewhat depleted after Midnight Hammer last summer,” McGinn added. “You can’t crank those out very fast.”
Beyond his role tending to the nation’s “magazine depth” — making sure the military isn’t firing more weapons than it is able to replenish — George also led the Pentagon’s effort to set up a joint task force last year aimed at speeding up the U.S. military’s ability to counter small unmanned aircraft systems, or drones.
The program has proved critical in the war effort. Tehran now relies heavily on its Shahed drones, with its missile production and launch capacity severely diminished.
Acknowledging the Pentagon expulsions, Iran’s embassy in South Africa posted photos on social media Friday x-ing out portraits of several top U.S. military officials fired in recent months.
“Regime change happened successfully,” the Iranians wrote.
BBC bosses were tonight urged to say why they kept Scott Mills on air while he was probed for sex offences with a boy under 16, only to fire him seven years later.
The Beeb also remain tight-lipped over what changed since their original decision not to act — knowing the star, 53, had been quizzed under caution between 2018 and 2019.
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BBC bosses have been urged to explain why they kept Scott Mills on air while he was probed for sex offencesCredit: Darren FletcherAllegations are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20sCredit: BBC
The allegations are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20s.
Broadcasters and MPs demanded answers over the latest of multiple scandals to rock the corporation in recent years.
TV presenter Piers Morgan said: “I don’t understand. He was investigated by police 10yrs ago over alleged offences 25+ years ago, but no action was taken and case was closed.
“Now he gets instantly fired over same thing? The BBC needs to explain why, surely?”
Insiders have claimed the BBC moved swiftly over Mills following criticism they were slow to act over shamed newsreader Huw Edwards.
Discussing the cases yesterday Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine said: “There is a thought here they decided to treat Scott how they wish they’d treated Huw. Which would be a bit unfair would it not?
“Regarding the inconsistency here, we were told Huw Edwards couldn’t be sacked because he was in a fragile mental state, everything I have read about Scott’s history today goes back to his own anxiety and depression and everything else but there doesn’t seem to be the same break cut for him.”
Tory Shadow Crime Minister Matt Vickers told The Sun: “This pattern of failure by the BBC is letting the public down whilst the institution continues to protect its own reputation over addressing serious internal concerns.
“Time and again, the public are asked to place their trust in an institution that too often seems unwilling to come clean when it matters most.
Mills was sacked as the £360,000-a-year host of Radio 2’s Breakfast ShowCredit: BBCAllegations about Mills were first reported to police in 2012Credit: PAMills is understood not to have spoken to colleagues or pals since being axedCredit: PA:Press Association
“For a broadcaster funded by the public and serving audiences of all ages, any failure to act on safeguarding concerns is unacceptable.”
Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998. Allegations about him were first reported to Hampshire Police by a third party in 2012.
The force logged the details and later passed on information to the Met’s Operation Winter Key.
In December 2016 Winter Key cops launched an investigation.
At that time, Mills was the Drivetime DJ for Radio 1 and hosted the Official Chart Show, which has a target age range of 15-plus.
Mills was interviewed under caution in July 2018 and denied the claims against him.
In March that year The Sun on Sunday revealed how an investigation was being carried out into an unnamed radio presenter.
A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge. The investigation was then closed in May 2019.
BBC bosses, including Ben Cooper, the then-controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra, chose not to take Mills off air despite the investigation.
“Scott said he denied the allegations that had been made against him. Ben stood by Scott and allowed him to continue working while the police investigated.
“Given how serious the complaint was, it raises questions about why the BBC decided to keep him on air on Radio 1 — whose target audience is teenagers — rather than removing him while the police continued the investigation.”
The BBC have now removed Mills from a Race Across The World podcast and pulled scenes he filmed for EastEndersCredit: PAScott Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998Credit: PA
Mr Cooper left his position as the controller of Radio 1 in 2020 after nine years.
Yesterday the Met issued a new statement and confirmed: “In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force.
“The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
“As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview, was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
“A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.
“Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”
A source said: “The BBC’s second probe into this saw them speaking to Scott, as well as individuals with knowledge of Scott’s dealings with the police in 2018.
“Whatever they discovered this time around clearly was treated more seriously, or given more credence than when it was first discussed with Scott in 2018, as this time they decided to sack him.”
The Sun revealed Huw Edwards paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit imagesCredit: PA
KEY MOMENTS IN COPS’ INVESTIGATION
1997-2000:
The alleged incidents take place, with Mills joining BBC Radio 1 in 1998.
DECEMBER 2016:
The Metropolitan Police start looking into claims regarding Mills.
JULY 2018:
Mills is questioned under caution by police about historical serious sexual offences against a teenage boy.
He tells the BBC about the investigation and denies the allegation.
MAY 2019:
The investigation ends as the CPS decide there is not enough evidence to charge.
OCTOBER 2022:
He joins BBC Radio 2, taking over the afternoon slot from Steve Wright.
JANUARY 2025:
Mills takes over as new Radio 2 Breakfast Show host after Zoe Ball stepped down — calling the role his “dream job”.
MARCH 24 2026:
He signs off “See you tomorrow,” in his slot only to be taken off air the following day.
MARCH 25 2026:
An investigation begins at BBC into the 2016 complaint.
MARCH 30 2026:
The BBC announce Mills is sacked and no longer works for the BBC.
MARCH 31 2026:
Metropolitan Police confirm the boy at the centre of the investigation was under 16 at time of the alleged offences.
APRIL 1 2026:
Insiders tell The Sun the BBC was aware of the investigation in 2018 after Mills told them about it and denied the allegations.
Insiders at the BBC also pointed to Channel 5’s documentary, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, as a possible reason for the complainant to contact the BBC.
It came after The Sun revealed Edwards paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit images.
The source added: “With the timing of the Huw film it makes sense why the person at the centre of the original (Mills) complaint may have decided to speak to the BBC again.
“Many in the BBC are saying the timing doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
“The drama showed actions do have consequences.” Separately, The Telegraph reported former BBC presenter Anna Brees contacted the Beeb in May 2025 to say she had received information about alleged “inappropriate communications” involving Mills.
She also asked whether the BBC had ever received any “formal or informal complaints” about Mills “relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct or harassment” and whether it had ever conducted an internal investigation into him.
She did not receive a response. The BBC admitted her information “should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions”.
There is no suggestion the inquiries by Ms Brees related to the same alleged victim whose complaint to the police led to Mills being questioned in 2018.
BBC bosses were left with “no choice” but to sack Mills after being passed compelling new information, it was claimed last night.
The Mirror reported the fresh details are different to the claims probed by police in 2016 but relate to the same complainant.
Yesterday charity Neuroblastoma UK dropped him as a patron. Dermot O’Leary who hosts the Saturday morning Breakfast Show, said yesterday: “This was a shock to everyone. It came from nowhere.”
Insiders said the BBC were now discussing who would take over the Breakfast Show – which in the latest round of Rajar figures in February revealed Mills had 6.5million listeners.
Trent McDuffie was a young high school player in Southern California when the Rams returned from St. Louis to Los Angeles in 2016.
During Rams training camp that summer, McDuffie watched HBO “Hard Knocks” episodes about the team with his parents, and they were enamored by coach Sean McVay.
“I remember just being like, ‘Dang, I would like to play for that guy,’” McDuffie said Thursday.
McDuffie, an All-Pro cornerback acquired by the Rams in a blockbuster trade, recalled those thoughts during an introductory news conference at the team’s facility in Woodland Hills after he signed a record-breaking four-year extension that reportedly includes $100 million in guarantees.
“Fast forward all these years, and now I’m here and it’s just a full-circle moment,” he said of getting to play for McVay. “Watched this guy, wanted to play for this guy and now this guy wants me.”
To land McDuffie, Rams general manager Les Snead sent the Kansas City Chiefs the 29th overall pick and fifth- and sixth-round picks in this year’s draft, and a 2027 third-round pick.
The moves were a complete departure from last year, when the Rams wrongly gambled that a young and aggressive pass rush could offset their decision to not make a single upgrade to the secondary.
The additions of McDuffie and Watson to an already deep and talented roster that features reigning NFL most valuable player Matthew Stafford, the Rams will be a favorite to play in Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium in February.
And make no mistake: Like they did in 2021, the Rams will do anything possible to ensure that owner Stan Kroenke is walking the Super Bowl sideline in the stadium he built in Inglewood.
McDuffie noted that the Rams have been “knocking on the door, year-in and year-out” since his rookie season with the Chiefs in 2022. A winning culture already is in place.
“This team is ready to go,” said McDuffie, a first-round pick out of Washington who starred in high school at Anaheim Servite and Bellflower St. John Bosco highs. “I don’t think I’m coming in here with a team that doesn’t understand the value that they have.
“So those little nuggets that I feel I can just pour into guys that can get us over the hump, I’m going to do everything I can.”
Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson speaks during his introductory news conference in Woodland Hills on Thursday.
(William Liang / Associated Press)
McDuffie and Watson, a 2022 seventh-round pick, were part of Chiefs teams that won two championships in three Super Bowl appearances.
“We really learned what it takes to win a Super Bowl, get to the Super Bowl, the preparation and the time it takes to be detailed in your craft,” McDuffie said.
When news about the trade broke last week, one of the first calls McDuffie answered was from Rams star receiver Puka Nacua, a former Washington teammate.
“He was just screaming at the top of his lungs,” McDuffie said. “I’m like ‘Puka, bro, I miss this energy. I miss what you bring.’ I’m just excited to be back on the field with him.”
McDuffie and Watson also are excited about continuing their partnership, which began when they were among five defensive backs drafted by the Chiefs four years ago.
Watson, 27, grew up in Georgia but played two seasons at Ventura College before finishing his college career at Washington State.
Like McDuffie, he is happy to be back in Southern California weather.
“Everyone’s just so nice here,” Watson said of the region, before quipping, “then you’ve got your taxes.”
The 5-foot-11 McDuffie and the 6-2 Watson will give secondary coach Jimmy Lake — who coached McDuffie in college — options for matchups.
“That’s why I think me and Trent complement each other so well,” Watson said. “His strengths are short-area quickness, the small shifty guys. And my strengths are the big receivers.
“So we should be pretty diverse. We should be able to match up pretty well against a lot of different looks we get.”
McDuffie and Watson join a cornerback group that includes Emmanuel Forbes Jr. The Rams have until May 1 to determine if they will exercise a fifth-year option on Forbes, a 2023 first-round draft pick by Washington who was claimed off waivers by the Rams in 2024.
Forbes will earn about $2 million this season, but would be guaranteed $12.6 million if the Rams exercise the option.
The Rams will begin offseason workouts in April.
McDuffie is happy to be back home.
“It’s hot, the sun’s out,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
