South Korean army chief resigns amid financial scandal

South Korea's army chief of staff, Hwang Eui-Don, resigned on Tuesday, after press reports linked him to a scandal involving a property investment. It is the second high level resignation in less than four weeks. The defence minister resigned earlier this month after criticism of his response to an attack by North Korea in which four people died.

Reuters/Park Jae-yong/Newsis

Hwang chose to resign because he judged it inappropriate to implement reforms in the army while he was facing allegations of corruption, according to a ministry of defence official.

But Hwang denies allegations that he bought a property in Seoul with advance knowledge that building restrictions would be eased.

Meanwhile South Korean live-fire military exercises continue for the second day on Tuesday. North Korea has described the manœuvres as a "provocation".

The bombardment of Yeonpyeong island, near the disputed Yellow Sea border, killed four people including two civilians on 23 November.