Kim Tae-hyo said, "The connection between encouraging visits and martial law a year and seven months ago is an absurd leap."

Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy chief of the National Security Office, said it was an absurd leap in response to Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo's claim that he had visited the special forces of North Korean agents and tried to plot a civil war for a long time.

Deputy Chief Kim issued a statement and said he encouraged intelligence officials and HID units in early June 2023, adding that linking the visit a year and seven months ago to the declaration of martial law is an absurd leap.

He explained that he never went to an underground bunker located in Gyeryongdae on the day of martial law or had contact with related people.

Deputy Director Kim argued that nothing can happen no matter how many times you repeat it, saying that there is a series of framing and propaganda to force it into the script.

Kim Byung-joo, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Kim visited HID in 2023 and claimed that it is highly doubtful that he intended to use North Korean agents to plot a civil war.