Military Standby Orders Leaked: ‘North Korean Threat Led to Martial Law Prep in South Korea’

On December 3, just before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, evidence emerged suggesting that military authorities had effectively prepared follow-up measures in advance.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun reportedly emphasized the threat posed by North Korea and issued orders such as mobilizing personnel and standby measures, which are now being interpreted as groundwork for deploying martial law troops.

At an emergency inquiry held by the National Defense Committee on Tuesday, Moon Sang Ho, Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, disclosed that on the morning of December 3, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., Kim instructed him to “assemble a team and keep them on standby as they may need to be deployed later that night.”

This was a direct order from the minister to mobilize personnel within an intelligence unit responsible for counter-North Korean operations. However, whether Kim mentioned specific “missions” for the personnel then remains unclear.

According to Commander Moon, Kim issued additional instructions on the day of the martial law declaration. He told them to keep the organized personnel on standby near the Government Complex in Gwacheon around 9 p.m., indicating they could receive a mission that night. This means intelligence personnel entered a mission standby state about an hour and a half before declaring martial law.

Personnel entered the Central Election Commission building in Gwacheon just six minutes after the martial law declaration, following Commander Moon’s orders, and began taking photos of the server’s exterior.

However, it is unclear whether Commander Moon understood the purpose behind the order to enter the Election Commission. When questioned by Park Beom Gye, a Democratic Party lawmaker, on whether Kim had ever told him about the need to investigate allegations of election fraud, Commander Moon chuckled and replied, “This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

The Defense Security Command also confirmed that it enhanced its readiness regarding North Korean variables ahead of the martial law.

At the inquiry, Lee Kyung Min, Chief of Staff of the Defense Counterintelligence Command (Army Major General), testified that Commander Yeo In Hyeong had issued standby orders to key counterintelligence officials on December 1, citing North Korean threats.

On December 3, the day martial law was declared, Commander Yeo emphasized the grave situation of North Korean debris and garbage balloons and ordered strict standby measures. Whether this directive was based on Commander Yeo’s judgment or Kim’s orders remains uncertain. Commander Yeo could not attend the National Defense Committee inquiry as he was summoned to the Special Investigation Division of the Prosecution that day.

However, it has been confirmed that Gwak Jong Geun, Commander of the Special Warfare Command, also expressed significant concern about the possibility of a North Korean provocation targeting Seoul on the day martial law was declared. This suggests that many commanders were likely highly alert to potential North Korean developments.

At the National Defense Committee inquiry, Commander Gwak stated that on December 1, two days before the martial law declaration, he received orders from Kim to secure six locations, including the National Assembly, the Democratic Party headquarters, and the Central Election Commission. He explained, “It wasn’t about martial law at the time. The greater concern was the possibility of an incident arising from the frontlines.”

Earlier, Colonel Kim Hyun Tae, the head of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, also reported during a press conference that Commander Kwak assessed the likelihood of North Korean provocations in Seoul as very high on the day of martial law, stating, “It seemed quite serious, and he told us to watch TV for updates.”

Colonel Kim initiated an emergency assembly as part of a previously planned training exercise, conducting personnel inspections and after-action reviews while awaiting the televised announcement. By almost 10 p.m., no relevant broadcasts had aired, and Colonel Kim ordered his unit to stand down.

However, at 10:23 p.m., President Yoon’s address began to air. Colonel Kim immediately recalled his personnel leaving and, acting on Commander Gwak’s orders relayed from Minister Kim, boarded helicopters with his unit and headed to the National Assembly.

Ultimately, the special forces unit, which had been maintaining a state of readiness in anticipation of a potential North Korean provocation, was rapidly deployed to the National Assembly following the martial law declaration.