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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law, opposition leaders vow to fight

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law, opposition leaders vow to fight

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday as he accused the country’s main opposition party of being overly sympathetic to North Korea and other “anti-state” activities.

Opposition leaders called the move unconstitutional and vowed to fight back. The surprise development comes as Yoon’s People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party were locked in a political battle over a budget bill.

Yoon said in a late night television address that he made the declaration “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.”

South Korean opposition parties had taken the country’s parliamentary system hostage and thrown the country into crisis, leaving him no choice but to make the drastic move, Yoon said. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, which has the majority in parliament, told YTN parliament would try to nullify the declaration.

South Korea is a close American ally and trade partner. “The Administration is in contact with the ROK government and is monitoring the situation closely,” a U.S. Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday, referring to the country’s formal name, the Republic of Korea. 

“Tanks, armored personnel carriers, and soldiers with guns and knives will rule the country,” Lee said in an online livestream. “The economy of the Republic of Korea will collapse irretrievably. My fellow citizens, please come to the National Assembly.”

Yonhap news agency reported that the entrance to the parliament building was blocked. It was not immediately clear how the martial law declaration would impact the running of the country. There was no immediate reaction from the White House or U.S. State Department. Requests for comment were not immediately returned.

Yoon’s declaration marks the first time in more than 40 years that the government has declared martial law since former dictator Chun Doo-Hwan declared martial law in 1980 after seizing power in a military coup.

In the intervening years, South Korea has evolved to become a leading Asian democracy and commercial powerhouse, whose main industries include steel, textiles, consumer electronics and car manufacturing.

South Korea is also a major U.S. military and economic partner in Asia and the U.S. has maintained a large troop presence there since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

South Korea today plays host to one of the U.S.’s largest overseas military bases, with approximately 28,000 troops stationed there. These troops act as a deterrent against nuclear-armed North Korea and to defend South Korea against any attacks from Pyongyang.

There was no immediate reaction from the Pentagon.

The U.S. has mutual defense agreements in place with South Korea. During President-elect Donald Trump’s first term he demanded billions of dollars more to extend these agreements.

Contributing: Reuters

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