(LEAD) Ex-military commander referred to prosecution over insurrection charges

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SEOUL, Dec. 24 (Yonhap) -- A former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC) suspected of being involved in President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law bid was referred to the prosecution on insurrection charges, officials said Tuesday.

A joint investigation team referred retired Army Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office with physical detention on charges of rebellion.

Noh is accused of discussing martial law operation plans with former and incumbent military intelligence officers at a burger franchise in Ansan, southwest of Seoul, two days before the plans were executed and on the day of its imposition on Dec. 3.

Police suspect Noh discussed plans to organize a private group of some 60 personnel in order to take hold of the National Election Commission.

On Monday, police found a notebook at Noh's residence detailing plans to "provoke North Korea into an attack" at the de facto inter-Korean sea border, or to "collect" and "shoot dead" politicians and justices.

Noh was dishonorably discharged in 2018 over a sexual harassment case.

Separately, Noh has drawn media attention over his reported ties to shamanism and fortune-telling.

A fortune teller in Gunsan, about 175 kilometers south of Seoul, claimed that Noh had visited the fortune teller's shop on many occasions and sought recommendations on the fortunes of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and other military officials related to the failed martial law bid.

"Noh visited countless times from February 2022 to early this year and asked about the destiny of military soldiers," the fortune teller told Yonhap News Agency, noting he came to the shop over 20 times.

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