Former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun has refused to comply with a summons from the second special counsel team regarding the martial law implementation plan detailed in the so-called "Noh Sang-won notebook."

The special counsel team announced today (July 16) that "former Minister Kim has expressed his intention not to attend the suspect interrogation scheduled by the special counsel for the 19th."

Previously, the special counsel team had ordered Kim to appear at the special counsel office on the 19th for questioning as a suspect on charges of conspiracy and preparation for insurrection-related murder.

It is understood that the special counsel team summoned Kim to investigate the contents related to "targets for removal" recorded in the notebook of former Defense Intelligence Command Commander Noh Sang-won.

In his notebook, former Commander Noh listed names under "Grade A" targets for removal, including President Lee Jae-myung, former President Moon Jae-in, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Kim Myeong-su, former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk.

The special counsel team is investigating whether the contents written in the notebook went beyond mere ideas and progressed to actual planning and preparation.

They are also examining whether Kim, who played a central role in the preparation and declaration of the emergency martial law, directed or received reports on the plans written in the notebook.

The special counsel team stated, "We will provide an update once a future interrogation schedule is set."