SEOUL, South Korea — The Pentagon announced the replacement of the commander of United States Special Operations in South Korea after a news media report quoted him as saying that American and South Korean troops had been parachuting into North Korea on spy missions, a statement denied by Washington and the government in Seoul.

The American military in Seoul said Brig. Gen. Neil H. Tolley’s departure from the job he held since October 2010 had nothing to do with the media report.

“The announcement by D.O.D. had been planned for some time and is a normal part of the general officer assignment process,” said a spokesman, Col. Jonathan Withington, “The change of command is still some months away, probably in the fall.”

The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war after fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce. Sending soldiers to the North would violate that cease-fire.