4-Star General Turned Lawmaker Kim Byung-joo Reveals Tip
"Communication Checks Conducted at Chungcheong War Map Office on December 3"
"Must Clarify Whether It Was to Induce North Wind or Detain Proclamation Violators"
Kim Byung-joo, a Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, revealed on the 8th that he received a tip last month indicating that the war command headquarters in the Chungcheong region was preparing to be activated during the emergency martial law. He raised suspicions that President Yoon Seok-yeol might have been inducing a North Korean threat to prepare for war or to establish large-scale detention facilities for those violating martial law orders.
Kim, a former four-star general in the Army, stated at the National Assembly's Steering Committee plenary session, "During the December 3 emergency martial law incident, a witness confirmed that journalists and politicians labeled as anti-state forces were to be detained in the war command headquarters' B1 document storage. But there is an even more shocking fact," adding, "I received a very credible tip from a source that the war command headquarters in the Chungcheong region, a massive bunker located hundreds of meters underground, was conducting various facility and communication inspections from the morning of December 3, indicating preparations."
He questioned, "What was the intended purpose? Was it to induce a North Korean threat to use the war command headquarters, to detain anti-state forces like in the B1 document storage, or to capture and imprison those violating martial law orders south of Chungcheong, such as medical residents who did not return or journalists and politicians labeled as anti-state forces? This needs to be confirmed."
Kim added, "This needs to be verified, but since today's Steering Committee meeting was not held, we cannot get answers," and urged, "The Presidential Office should provide a clear response on this matter."
Additionally, Kim mentioned, "Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of the National Security Office, visited the HID, a special North infiltration operation unit in the Gangwon region, in 2023, which is highly unusual." He explained, "Originally, President Yoon Seok-yeol was supposed to go as well, but the president canceled, and only Kim Tae-hyo went. He closely observed the training of the unit members at HID. Since Kim Tae-hyo is a deputy director responsible for diplomacy, his visit raises serious suspicions."
He continued, "Having served 39 years in the military and retired as an Army general, I have never visited the HID unit because it is a secret unit," and added, "I strongly suspect that there was an intention to plot a rebellion using North infiltration operatives."
On that day, the Steering Committee's inquiry was canceled due to the absence of all Presidential Office officials.
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