Inducing North Korean Attack in NLL... Politicians and Judges Collected and Shot [Impeachment Q&A]

'Gye-eom Planning' Prosecutor Noh Sang-won Transferred
Key Evidence Is Words in Notebook
Investigation Agencies Target President Yoon

Former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command, No Sang-won, who is accused of planning the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,' was handed over to the prosecution in custody on the 24th. The key evidence is a notebook written by former Commander No, which reportedly contained notes such as ‘inducing an attack by North Korea on the Northern Limit Line (NLL)’ and ‘detention and execution’ of politicians and judges. It is expected to play a decisive role in proving the charges against President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been explicitly identified as the ringleader of the rebellion.

Former Intelligence Commanding General No Sang-won, who is accused of premeditating the emergency martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution while moving to the escort vehicle at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Contents such as ‘inducing an attack by North Korea’ and ‘trash balloons’ emerged from former Commander No’s notebook, raising interest in applying the crime of treason under the Criminal Act. Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea filed charges against President Yoon and former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun for treason and treason-related crimes, based on reports that Kim had ordered a pinpoint strike on the launch sites of North Korean trash balloons and the deployment of South Korean drones over Pyongyang. In response, the police stated that they are also investigating the president for treason charges.

There was a phrase describing the 'blockade of the National Assembly' during the emergency martial law period. This can be interpreted as a ‘riot with the purpose of disturbing the national order,’ which is an element of the crime of rebellion. In fact, about 1,500 troops were mobilized from the Army Special Warfare Command, Capital Defense Command, Military Counterintelligence Command, and Army Intelligence Command to prevent the National Assembly’s resolution demanding the lifting of martial law on the 3rd, when President Yoon declared the emergency martial law. Police were also deployed to block the entrances to the National Assembly.

The phrase ‘detention and execution’ of key figures was also detected. This included politicians, journalists, religious figures, labor unions, judges, and public officials, with some individuals named explicitly. Woo Jong-su, head of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters, responded affirmatively to a question from Yoon Gun-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee meeting the previous day, asking whether the notebook mentioned ‘detention targets’ such as politicians, journalists, and religious figures, and if the term ‘execution’ was used.

President Yoon’s side claims that the word ‘arrest’ was never even mentioned during the martial law period, but four people have already testified otherwise. Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, said, “Take them all in this time. Clean them all up.” Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun testified that President Yoon twice instructed him by phone, “It seems the quorum for the resolution has not yet been met. Quickly break down the door and drag out the people inside.” Yeon In-hyung, commander of the Military Counterintelligence Command, also reportedly testified to the prosecution that “the names on the arrest list received from former Minister Kim were people President Yoon had previously mentioned as problematic.” Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho claimed that he refused six orders from President Yoon to arrest key politicians.

The existence of former Commander No’s private organization, ‘Investigation Unit 2,’ was also revealed. Former Commander No is accused of premeditating martial law with current and former military officials at a hamburger fast-food restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, on the 3rd. During that meeting, it was investigated that Investigation Unit 2 was organized with about 60 members to seize control of the National Election Commission. A National Police Agency special investigation team official explained, “We received testimonies from those who attended the Lotteria meeting regarding Investigation Unit 2,” adding, “It is divided into three units, with about 60 people from the unit leader to members. It was confirmed that personnel appointment documents were even prepared.”

President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News

Former Commander No remains silent to the end. The police special investigation team explained that since former Commander No has shown a passive attitude in his testimony, they are clarifying the facts based on testimonies from surrounding associates. At 7:21 a.m. that day, former Commander No was taken into custody in a transport vehicle from the basement first floor of the Seoul Western Police Station without answering any questions from reporters such as ‘Who did you write to execute in the notebook?’ ‘Who did you consult with about the notes?’ ‘How did you plan to induce a North Korean attack on the NLL?’ and ‘Did you communicate directly with President Yoon Seok-yeol during the emergency martial law?’

Ultimately, the investigation is pointed directly at President Yoon. Although former Commander No’s notebook is in the form of simple notes, reviewing the emergency martial law period shows that some of the plans were realized, and the rest had a high likelihood of execution. However, President Yoon is refusing to be investigated. He rejected the second summons letter from the Joint Investigation Headquarters (Joint HQ) by mail, and the scheduled investigation on the 25th is expected not to take place. The Joint HQ stated the previous day, “The summons sent to the President’s Office General Secretary and the Presidential Secretariat was returned as ‘addressee unknown,’ and the presidential residence refused to accept it, as confirmed by the postal system,” adding, “The electronic official document remains unconfirmed.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.