South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from “communist forces” in North Korea and “anti-state” actors in his own nation.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of the communist forces of North Korea, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the constitutional right free. order,” Yoon said today in a televised speech.
He continued to accuse his country’s opposition of controlling parliament and paralyzing the government through anti-state activities, without specifying what they were.
It was not immediately clear how the measures would affect the country’s governance and democracy, but Yoon vowed to “rebuild a democratic country” under martial law.
The move comes as a complete shock to the Western-aligned Asian nation of more than 50 million people, which despite growing tensions with its enemy from the North is not waging an active war, has not been invaded by Kim’s troops. Jong Un and has not suffered attacks. on its soil.
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon had struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament, raising suspicions that the sudden implementation of martial law could be a political ploy to wield greater power.
The move comes a day after the opposition Democratic Party, which has a majority in parliament, tabled a motion to dismiss some of South Korea’s top prosecutors and also rejected a government budget proposal.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, saying the measure was necessary to protect the country from “communist forces” in North Korea and “anti-state” actors in his own nation.