Police Request Arrest Warrant for Former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won... "Confirmed Pre-discussion of Martial Law"

Transfer of the 'Munsangho Intelligence Commander Incident' to the Corruption Investigation Office

The police have requested an arrest warrant for former Intelligence Command Commander Noh Sang-won.

Yonhap News

On the 17th, the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency stated, "We have requested an arrest warrant for former Commander Noh on charges including insurrection," and added, "It has been confirmed that former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and personnel from the Intelligence Command discussed martial law in advance." This warrant request was made in consultation with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

The Special Investigation Unit urgently detained former Commander Noh on the 15th while summoning him for questioning on charges of insurrection. Noh, who served as the Intelligence Command Commander during the Park Geun-hye administration, is currently a civilian, but opposition parties have identified him as a key figure assisting former Minister Kim in planning the martial law as a behind-the-scenes operator. The police suspect that Noh, known to be a close friend and junior alumnus of former Minister Kim from the Korea Military Academy, may have drafted the initial proclamation.

At around 9:30 a.m. on the same day, the Special Investigation Unit transferred the case to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to expedite the detention and investigation of Intelligence Command Commander Moon Sang-ho. The prosecution rejected the police's request for urgent detention of Commander Moon the previous day. The prosecution stated, "Considering the investigation and detention circumstances, this urgent detention violates the jurisdiction provisions of the Military Court Act." In response, the Special Investigation Unit said, "The police have investigative authority over active-duty soldiers and are the explicit investigative body for insurrection charges," and added, "We regret the prosecution's rejection and will continue to conduct a thorough investigation."

Commander Moon is accused of ordering the deployment of troops to the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, following President Yoon Seok-yeol's martial law declaration on the 3rd. He is also suspected of deploying the North Korean infiltration unit (HID) under the Intelligence Command to urgently arrest members of the National Assembly.