South Korea: Military Intelligence Leader Arrested Amid Martial Law Investigation
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Seoul, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Chief of the Defence Intelligence Command in South Korea, who is believed to have participated in martial law operations, has been officially arrested on Wednesday, as stated by an anti-corruption investigation agency looking into the martial law decree.
Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho was taken into custody at 12:20 pm, according to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
Moon is alleged to have ordered troops under his command to the National Election Commission office in Gwacheon, located just south of Seoul, on December 3, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Additionally, he is accused of having discussions about martial law operations with Noh Sang-won, a former Defense Intelligence commander, along with two other subordinates, at a burger franchise in Gyeonggi Province two days before Yoon's martial law declaration.
A court session to determine whether to formally detain Noh, the former commander, is set for 3 pm. Noh has indicated he will not attend.
Earlier in the day, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol did not appear before the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for high-ranking officials, defying a summons for questioning regarding his brief imposition of martial law.
Yoon had been requested by a joint investigation team, comprising the CIO, police, and the Defense ministry's investigative unit, to report to the CIO's office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on Wednesday.
The president faces allegations of inciting insurrection through his martial law declaration on December 3 and is currently suspended from his duties pending a trial at the Constitutional Court concerning his impeachment by the National Assembly.
Attempts to deliver the summons to Yoon were unsuccessful earlier this week, as the presidential office declined to accept it and returned the mail.
CIO chief Oh Dong-woon informed the National Assembly's legislation committee on Tuesday that the summons was being rejected 'deliberately' and that his agency would promptly take 'lawful' actions in response.
