Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 14
Reuters: South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol yesterday declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being “anti-state forces” and saying he was acting to protect the country from “threats” posed by the North.
The National Assembly was sealed late on Tuesday night and helicopters were seen landing on the roof, as army chief General Park An-su took charge as martial law commander and immediately issued a decree banning “all political activities”.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament demanding to be let inside as police guarded the building and special forces attempted to enter.
Democratic South Korea is a major ally for the United States in Asia, and a spokesman for the US National Security Council said Washington was “monitoring the situation closely”.
Yoon’s stunning announcement — South Korea’s first declaration of martial law in more than 40 years — came as his party and the opposition bicker over the budget.
“To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements plundering people’s freedom and happiness, I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised address to the nation.
With martial law imposed, all military units in the South have been ordered to strengthen their emergency alert and readiness postures, Yonhap news agency reported.
China, a key ally of North Korea, urged its nationals in the South to stay calm and exercise caution.
