Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho speaks in an emergency press briefing at the defense ministry in Seoul, Dec. 6. Yonhap

The defense ministry and the military will not obey any orders to execute martial law should they be issued again, the acting defense minister said Friday, amid rumors over the possibility of another martial law declaration.

"Rumors that circulated this morning on signs of another martial law declaration are not true," Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho said in an emergency press briefing.

"Even if there is an order for martial law issuance, the defense ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will never accept it," Kim said.

He apologized for causing concern over the martial law turmoil and vowed to closely cooperate with the prosecution on investigations surrounding the issue.

The military will strive to protect the safety and daily lives of the people while maintaining a firm readiness posture, he added.

The vice defense minister took on the role of acting defense minister after former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, known to have proposed the martial law declaration to President Yoon Suk Yeol, resigned. (Yonhap)