South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law”, accusing the opposition of paralyzing the government with anti-state activities and sympathizing with North Korea, Associated Press reported on December 3.
In a televised address, Yoon said the move was essential to defend the country’s constitutional order. He said that the democratic regime is being threatened by the opposition, which “controls the parliament, sympathizes with North Korea, and paralyzes the government.”
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Yoon said, Reuters report.
South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported that entry and exit from the Korean National Assembly was blocked after the declaration of martial law.
The Ministry of National Defense of South Korea released an urgent update that it “held a meeting of key commanders of all armed forces”
Earlier, North Korea reportedly mobilized 1.4 million citizens in what state media calls a “sacred war” against South Korea.
In addition, North Korea was expanding a key production facility that manufactures short-range missiles, and other weapons, which are reportedly being supplied to Moscow and resupplying the North Korean stockpiles after North Korean missile tests, with the last one being at least 7 short-range ballistic missiles launched towards the Sea of Japan.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")