South Korean General Arrested in Martial Law Probe

South Korean authorities have arrested Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Command, amid a probe into a failed attempt by President Yoon Suk-yeol to impose martial law on December 3, which was aimed at countering perceived 'anti-state' activities. Noh is accused of drafting the martial law decree and coordinating actions with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is also under arrest for treason related to the matter. His arrest has revealed a network of military officials allegedly involved in the brief martial law that lasted only six hours before being overturned by parliamentary vote. Noh's co-accused, Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, is also implicated for allegedly deploying troops to the National Election Commission's office during the martial law period. The investigation highlights concerns over the potential misuse of military power in South Korea, raising alarms about the implications for democracy. The martial law decree proposed halting National Assembly operations and enforcing press censorship, suggesting an attempt to consolidate power by the current administration.