The ruling Saenuri Party will form a task force to look into allegations of corruption in the defense industry, the party’s floor leader said Wednesday.

Corruption involving military officials and defense firms became an issue during the recent parliamentary audit of the government that ended last week.

President Park Geun-hye has denounced corrupt dealings in defense acquisition programs as “actions serving the interests of the enemy” and vowed to use “exemplary punishment” to root them out.

One major scandal centers on allegations that officials at the state procurement agency fabricated a document for the sonar system of the 3,500-ton Navy salvage ship Tongyeong and paid far more than what it was worth.

“Not only will we form a party task force for eradicating corruption in the defense industry and (ensuring) watertight security, but we will seriously consider ways to take action at the parliamentary level,” Rep. Lee One-koo, the ruling party’s floor leader, said during a party meeting.

“We will draw up strong parliamentary measures through talks with the opposition party.”

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy has called for a parliamentary investigation into the allegations, separate from the prosecution probe currently underway.

The ruling party has so far expressed doubts about the proposal. (Yonhap)