Politicians, Journalists, Judges Targeted for Collection
Explicit Mention of Provoking North Korean Attacks in NLL
Former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command, Noh Sang-won, who is accused of planning the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,' was handed over to the prosecution in custody on the 24th.
Former Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won, accused of premeditating the emergency martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution by escort vehicle at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
At 7:21 a.m. that day, Commander Noh boarded the transport vehicle without responding to reporters' questions at the basement level 1 of the Seoul Western Police Station, including “Who did you write in your notebook to be shot?” “Who did you consult with about the memo?” “How did you intend to provoke an attack by North Korea on the Northern Limit Line (NLL)?” and “Did you communicate directly with President Yoon Seok-yeol about the emergency martial law?”
The Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Headquarters sent former Commander Noh to the prosecution in custody on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority. Noh served as the Intelligence Commander during the Park Geun-hye administration and is suspected to be a behind-the-scenes figure who planned the current martial law, including drafting the proclamation order with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, a senior from the Korea Military Academy.
It has been confirmed that Noh’s notebook, secured by the police, contained notes such as ‘provoking North Korea’s attack on the NLL,’ and ‘collection’ and ‘shooting’ of politicians, judges, and others. At a full meeting of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee the previous day, Woo Jong-su, head of the National Police Agency’s Criminal Investigation Headquarters, responded “It corresponds to the facts” when Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Geon-young asked, “In (former Commander Noh’s) notebook, it was mentioned that politicians, journalists, and religious figures were targets for collection, but was there an expression of shooting?” Noh’s notebook is said to be about 60 to 70 pages in palm size, containing many details related to martial law.
Former Commander Noh is suspected of premeditating the martial law with current and former military officials at a hamburger fast-food restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, on the 3rd. During that meeting, he reportedly organized his private group ‘Investigation Unit 2’ with about 60 members to take control of the Central Election Commission. A Special Investigation Unit official said, “We received testimonies from attendees of the Lotteria meeting regarding Investigation Unit 2,” adding, “It is divided into three departments with about 60 members from commanders to unit members. It has been confirmed that personnel appointment documents were even prepared.”
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