Four Hours of Martial Law Discussion at the Defense Minister's Residence on the Eve of Martial Law, Two More Hours on the Day of Declaration
Visited the Official Residence About 22 Times Since Last September... Sometimes Used the Minister's Secretary's Car
Planned to Lead the Joint Investigation Headquarters... Shared Plans to Take Control of the Election Commission
Regarding the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law' incident, the prosecution's special investigation headquarters included in the indictment that former Intelligence Command Commander Noh Sang-won conspired about the martial law at the Ministry of National Defense minister's official residence for four days just before the martial law was declared. In particular, former Commander Noh met with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun for four hours until midnight the day before the martial law, and on the day the martial law was declared, he visited the official residence again to discuss martial law-related plans for two hours.
Former Intelligence Command Commander 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 on the 24th at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
According to the indictment obtained by Asia Economy on the 18th from the prosecution's special investigation headquarters on emergency martial law (headed by Seoul High Prosecutor Park Se-hyun), the special investigation headquarters submitted this indictment when they arrested and indicted former Commander Noh on the 10th on charges of conspiring to commit rebellion. Former Commander Noh, who ran a fortune-telling shop in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, is a key conspirator related to the martial law, having planned to serve as the head of the 2nd investigation team of the Joint Investigation Headquarters immediately after the martial law was declared.
According to the indictment, former Commander Noh discussed martial law-related matters every day for four days from November 30 to December 3 last year, until the day the martial law was declared, at former Minister Kim's official residence. The indictment states that once the emergency martial law was declared, they planned to establish and operate the 2nd investigation team under the Joint Investigation Headquarters of the Martial Law Command, using Intelligence Command troops to investigate suspicions of election fraud involving the Central Election Commission. Although he had no official position, he was to effectively perform the role of the head of the 2nd investigation team behind the scenes.
While performing this role, former Commander Noh particularly showed a strong determination to uncover election fraud. According to the indictment, on November 9 last year, at a hamburger restaurant near Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, he met with former Intelligence Command Commander Moon Sang-ho and Intelligence Command Colonel Jung Sung-wook and said, "Martial law will be declared soon. Then, the Joint Investigation Headquarters investigation team will be formed, and I am expected to lead it. To uncover election fraud, you must take the personnel you have selected and enter the Central Election Commission to arrest the staff."
In particular, after saying, "I will handle the chairman of the Central Election Commission (Noh Tae-ak)," former Commander Noh handed over two copies of documents about 10 pages long on A4 paper, which included explanations about election fraud, a list of about 30 Central Election Commission staff targeted for arrest, items to prepare for the arrest such as hammers and cable ties, and the duties of each commander.
Furthermore, the prosecution's special investigation headquarters included in the indictment that former Commander Noh visited former Minister Kim's official residence 22 times from September last year, including the four days just before the martial law declaration, to discuss martial law-related matters. During this process, to avoid inspection at the official residence guard post, he sometimes used a vehicle used by Minister Kim's secretary.
Meanwhile, after the emergency martial law, the prosecution's special investigation headquarters urgently arrested former Minister Kim, obtained an arrest warrant, and then indicted him. Former Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo and former Director of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung were also arrested and indicted.
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