Noh Sang-won, former Defense Intelligence Command chief accused of premeditating the Dec. 3 martial law, is transferred to prosecutors on the 24th. Noh is suspected of aiding former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun in drafting the martial law proclamations. /News1

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Police have seized a notebook from a fortune-telling parlor associated with Noh Sang-won, the former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC), who is in custody on sedition charges tied to a proposed martial law declaration. The notebook reportedly contains memos with alarming entries, such as “induce an attack from the North at the Northern Limit Line (NLL)” and “trash balloons.” These notes have been interpreted as an attempt to provoke North Korean aggression to justify enacting martial law by fabricating a national emergency resembling wartime or armed conflict, as stipulated in the Constitution. The idea that a former high-ranking military officer could devise such plans raises serious concerns.

The key question is whether these memos reflect Noh’s personal delusions or were meant for those with the authority to act on them. Noh maintained a 35-year friendship with Kim Yong-hyun, the former defense minister, who has also been implicated in this martial law conspiracy. This connection raises the possibility that Noh’s ideas were communicated to individuals such as Kim or even President Yoon Suk-yeol.

If substantiated, these allegations carry severe implications. Treason, a crime that threatens national security, is punishable by death, while undermining military operations may lead to life imprisonment. The NLL holds both symbolic and strategic importance, having been fiercely defended during events such as the Yeonpyeong naval skirmishes and the sinking of the Cheonan warship. Adding to the controversy, the Democratic Party has alleged that former Defense Minister Kim sought to provoke a North Korean attack by targeting the origins of “trash balloons” sent across the border. Given the overtly political motivations behind this alleged “martial law” plot, questions about the lengths those involved might have gone to are unsurprising.

The notebook also reportedly includes a list of politicians, journalists, union leaders, and judges labeled as “targets for detainment,” with some entries marked for “execution.” During earlier martial law discussions, a list of 14 individuals designated for arrest surfaced, accompanied by rumors of plans to assassinate specific politicians. Whether these proposals align with Noh’s notes warrants further scrutiny. Authorities have additionally revealed that Noh attempted to form an unofficial investigative unit under the martial law command, intending to lead it himself. The idea of a civilian overseeing a team of more than 60 military personnel is shocking.

The former defense minister is alleged to have involved Noh, dishonorably discharged for sexual misconduct, in martial law discussions while Noh was running a fortune-telling business. Prosecutors must investigate whether Kim endorsed or acted upon suggestions such as Noh’s proposal to provoke a North Korean attack at the NLL. Before this, President Yoon, who held ultimate authority during the martial law discussions, must offer a clear and transparent explanation to the public regarding these serious allegations.

[The Chosunilbo]

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