The special investigation team of the national investigation headquarters, which is investigating the Dec. 3 martial law situation, conducted a seizure and search of the Ministry of National Defense on the 12th and secured the 'secure phone' used by former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. The secure phone is a security mobile phone equipped with eavesdropping and call recording prevention programs.
The special investigation team sent investigators to the Ministry of National Defense that day to seize former Minister Kim's secure phone device with the cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense. The investigation headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense also participated in the seizure and search on this day.
It is known that former Minister Kim gave several instructions to field commanders through the secure phone during the declaration of martial law with President Yoon Suk-yeol. Thus, their usage record of secure phones is considered a crucial clue in clarifying the situation.
The special investigation team also conducted a seizure and search of the Capital Defense Command and secured secure phone server data. The police also received materials related to the martial law command from the Joint Chiefs of Staff through voluntary submission.
It is reported that the submitted materials include closed-circuit (CC) TV footage from the Joint Chiefs of Staff underground command and control room, which was used as the situation room by the martial law command from the 3rd to the 4th, before and after the declaration of martial law.
Previously, it was known that President Yoon visited the command and control room shortly after 1 a.m. on the 4th, when the National Assembly's resolution for the lifting of martial law was passed, and held a meeting with military officials. The police are expected to determine what discussions took place regarding the lifting of martial law through CCTV footage and related statements.