The military plans to inspect all Army corps based around Seoul and in border areas after one of the front-line units was found to have been conducting guard duties without live ammunition loaded, officials said Thursday. Criticism is growing after the 1st Corps, responsible for the western front, has instructed its soldiers to use unloaded K6 heavy machine guns while on guard duty and to leave live ammunition next to the firearms. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which oversees all operations along the border with North Korea, has said it was not aware that the unit had altered its policy and that it will thoroughly address the matter. The Chosun Ilbo daily reported Thursday that the same corps has also used unloaded K4 automatic grenade launchers, a 40-millimeter heavy firearm designed to attack enemy troops and light armored vehicles at ranges of up to 1,500 m. The corps commander reportedly issued the directive at his own discretion, apparently to prevent accidental discharges, as such incidents involving loaded machine guns often occurred at front-line posts. The Army's Ground Operat