Will the Truth of Martial Law Revealed in 'Nosangwon Notebook'? [Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club]

Focused Investigation on Whether Higher-Ups Were Reported in the 'Baengnyeongdo Operation'

Attention is focused on the notebook of former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command, No Sang-won, in the investigation of the December 3 emergency martial law incident. The discovery of the term ‘Baengnyeongdo Operation’ in No’s notebook is expected to concentrate the investigation on whether it was reported to higher-ups and the execution plan.

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 on the 24th at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

According to the investigative authorities on the 26th, the palm-sized notebook, consisting of about 60 to 70 pages, contains various scattered words presumed to have been noted by former Commander No during the ‘Lotteria meeting.’ The content of the ‘Baengnyeongdo Operation’ was also mentioned. The authorities are currently investigating the content suggesting that the targets would be killed during the process of being sent to Baengnyeongdo by ship after being detained.

Expressions Referring to Targets Including Politicians

The content of the ‘Baengnyeongdo Operation’ is suspected to be an execution plan targeting so-called ‘collection targets,’ including politicians. In fact, the notebook of former Commander No, secured by the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency, reportedly contains the phrase ‘blockade of the National Assembly’ related to the emergency martial law. Notably, the notebook refers to politicians and others as ‘collection targets,’ and it is understood that the real names of some targets, including Lee Seong-yoon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, are recorded.

This operation is analyzed as a strategy to arrest and eliminate politicians and others while simultaneously provoking North Korean attacks near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. To carry out this plan, field units would also need to be mobilized. The investigative authorities are expected to closely examine documents requesting cooperation with the Marine Corps 6th Brigade guarding Baengnyeongdo or the Pyeongtaek Navy 2nd Fleet responsible for the West Sea NLL during the martial law planning stage.

Suspicions of Provoking North Korean Aggression at the NLL

There is growing suspicion that the situation was staged to provoke North Korean aggression at the West Sea NLL, known as the powder keg of the Korean Peninsula, to strengthen the momentum for the enforcement and maintenance of martial law. The phrase ‘provoking North’s attack at the NLL’ is written, and there are observations that the military authorities might have attempted to induce a localized conflict by sending drones to North Korea or ordering direct strikes on balloon-borne waste to create conditions for martial law.

At a time when the political sphere is mentioning ‘North wind operations,’ claims are being made that the firing exercises conducted at the NLL were intended to provoke aggression against the South. In June, the military conducted training on Baengnyeongdo and Yeonpyeongdo, firing about 290 advanced weapons including K-9 self-propelled howitzers, Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, and Spike missiles. This was the first such exercise in over six years since the suspension following the September 2018 military agreement. The military conducted maritime firing exercises in the northwestern islands in September and also carried out a training session firing about 200 rounds from K-9 self-propelled howitzers for approximately 30 minutes on the 27th of last month.

Military Denies West Sea Training Allegations, Calls It “Routine Training”

The military has dismissed these claims. Lee Seong-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a regular briefing, “The large-scale training in the West Sea was a routine exercise planned after the suspension of the September 19 agreement,” adding, “We plan to continue conducting such exercises normally in the future.”

As former Commander No is identified as the planner of the December 3 emergency martial law incident, attention is also focused on whether the operation plan was actually reported to higher-ups such as former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. The investigative authorities are considering the possibility that former Commander No sketched out the blueprint in his notebook, from the arrest of key figures to detention, collection, and killing. A National Assembly official said, “Declaring martial law is important, but creating justification for its continuation is also crucial,” adding, “If covert cell networks are mobilized, it is a scenario that could be realistically implemented.”