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South Korea’s president declared martial law Tuesday in a surprise late-night televised address, accusing the political opposition of siding with North Korea.
President Yoon Suk Yeol said the move was “aimed at eradicating pro-North Korean forces and to protect the constitutional order of freedom,” according to South Korean media. He did not specify what measures would be taken.
The declaration came after weeks of political deadlock over a budget bill, with the rival Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the country’s parliament, refusing to greenlight the legislation.
Yoon, who hails from the conservative People Power Party, was elected in 2022. But the Democratic Party’s landslide victory in a parliamentary election earlier this year left him a lame duck halfway through his presidency.
In his address, Yoon accused the Democratic Party of sympathizing with Pyongyang and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities.
But his martial law declaration shocked even his own party, with People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon calling it “wrong.”
Right after Yoon’s announcement, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun called for a meeting of key commanders and asked the military to stay on emergency guard, Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Martial Law commander army general Park An-soo announced that all media would now be under military censorship and that political activities are banned.
“We prohibit any act that denies the liberal democratic system or attempts to overthrow it, and prohibits fake news, manipulation of public opinion, and false propaganda,” he said.
“The president’s martial law declaration is wrong.” he said. “We will stop it along with the people.”
