Seoul: South Korea on Tuesday declared emergency martial law. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took this step to protect the country from North Korea’s ”Communist regime”. “To safeguard a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements… I hereby declare emergency martial law,” Yoon said in a live televised address to the nation.
Following Yeols announcement, South Korean currency "Won" has crashed. The commanders of all branches of South Korea’s Defence Ministry have been ordered to increase their combat readiness following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to impose martial law. Yeol accused South Korea's opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathysing with North Korea and indulging in anti-state activities, reported The Associated Press.
Notably, Yeol's conservative People Power Party had been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition Democratic Party over next year's budget bill. Notably, the South Krean President's popularity has dipped over the past few months.
After Yeol's announcement, the Democratic Party reportedly called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers.
(With inputs from The Associated Press)