SEOUL, Dec 3 - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has declared martial law, sparking surprise and concern. And he accused the opposition of "anti-state activities and planning a rebellion".
"Martial law aims to eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional order of freedom," Yoon said in a televised speech.
The decision came after the opposition Democratic Party scrapped a budget cut proposal in the parliamentary budget committee and tabled motions to impeach the state auditor and attorney general.
Yoon Suk Yeol has only been president for two years and faces political stagnation, with the opposition holding a majority in parliament. This has led to an internal political crisis, compounded by the increasing assertiveness of North Korea, which is getting involved in the conflict in Ukraine and sending troops to Kursk in Russia.
The government in Seoul says the opposition has been infiltrated by North Korea, raising questions about security threats. A security analyst says Michael Clark It is a constitutional manoeuvre that is likely to face opposition resistance, but not a coup. Martial law gives the President extraordinary powers and may have wide-ranging political implications, including on relations between South Korea and Japan, which have improved recently, particularly in the security field.
The opposition, including Leader Lee, plans to try to nullify martial law, but there are fears that this will lead to arrests of MPs. The rhetoric around the move suggests that it could be a step towards resolving the government crisis, but it also poses a danger to political stability in the country. The use of martial law is risky and could have long-term consequences, and caution is therefore needed.
The South Korean Parliament resumes its work. Special forces have left the building and the area in front of it. The Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution lifting martial law declared by the President.
In Seoul, citizens finally managed to break through the special forces cordon around the dissolved parliament building. The MPs want to continue their work despite the ban and, in turn, to remove the president from office.
Yonhap/ sky news/ gnews - RoZ_07
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