South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced this Tuesday, December 3, that he was lifting martial law, a few hours after having decreed it, following a vote in Parliament against this unprecedented measure.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announces that he is lifting martial law this Tuesday, December 3, a few hours after it was put in place, followed by a blocking vote in parliament against the measure.
“There was a request from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we proceeded with the withdrawal of the soldiers who had been deployed for martial law operations,” the president declared on television.
“We will comply with the National Assembly's request and lift martial law at a government meeting,” Yoon Suk Yeol continued. 190 South Korean MPs opposed the implementation of martial law. The Yonhap news agency notes that among the elected officials who voted against martial law are 18 deputies from the presidential camp.
“Threats posed by North Korean communist forces”
Earlier, the president of South Korea had justified his action in a televised address, saying “protect liberal South Korea from threats posed by North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements.”
“Without caring about the people's livelihood, the opposition party paralyzed the government, for the purposes of impeachments, special investigations and to protect its leader from legal prosecution,” Yoon Suk-yeol continued.
