MILITARY forces have stormed the parliament in South Korea after the country’s president declared martial law to thwart a rebellion claimed to have been inspired by Kim Jong-un.
In a late-night TV address to the nation, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered troops to enter the National Assembly building in Seoul in a desperate bid to cling to power.
APSouth Korean martial law soldiers try to enter the National Assembly compound in Seoul[/caption]
ReutersArmed military in fatigues being sprayed with fire extinguishers by protesters[/caption]
EPASoldiers prepare to enter the main hall of the National Assembly in Seoul following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law[/caption]
Reuters A helicopter is seen flying around the National Assembly hall[/caption]
ReutersSouth Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party’s staff set up a barricade to block soldiers at the National Assembly[/caption]
Chaos and confusion erupted as a helicopter was seen landing on the roof of the parliament building and tanks were seen on streets outside.
Dramatic footage shows soldiers being sprayed with fire extinguishers by protesters who formed a human shield around the parliament building.
Further video footage shows crowds attempting to force their way through a set of doors inside amid scuffles and chants of “No to martial law!”
Armed with assault rifles, army men were seen pointing their guns directly at civilians and MPs as they battled to get into the building.
One clip showed South Korea‘s special forces climbing windows to break into the building.
Dozens of lawmakers are still sitting in the chamber, having blocked the President’s move – which he claimed was intended to protect the country from North Korean communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik submitted a resolution requesting the lifting of martial law around 4pm UK time (1am local).
The speaker later revealed he was forced to climb over a five-foot fence amid chaos to reach the chamber to call the vote.
His resolution was passed with 190 of 300 members of the ruling and opposition parties in attendance, with all present in favour.
President Yoon’s reign appears to be nearing its end as troops ringing the building to uphold his martial law order have been stood down, according to the speaker.
In a late-night emergency TV address, the President stunned the world as he said he had no choice but to resort to military rule to safeguard freedom and constitutional order.
He claimed the martial law would crack down on the threat posed by opposition MPs who support North Korean despot Kim Jung-un.
Yoon said: “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.”
But MPs from both the ruling party and opposition last night vowed to block the move.
Normal civil rights can be suspended under martial law in which the military maintains security during national emergencies.
South Korea’s martial law commander said political activities were now “strictly prohibited” – but was openly defied by members of the national assembly last night amid spiralling tension.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung had said the parliament will try to nullify Yoon’s martial law but the military may try to arrest members of parliament.
He urged the public to gather outside the National Assembly to protest against martial law.
Opposition MPs raced to get parliament building and veto the the president’s decision to impose martial law before getting arrested by the army.
They were seen setting a barricade to block the soldiers at the entrance of the National Assembly.
The country’s parliament has voted to block the president’s move to declare martial law after Jae-myung’s party called an emergency meeting of its lawmakers following Yoon’s announcement.
What is martial law?
MARTIAL law is the temporary replacement of a civilian government with military rule – typically during war or major disasters.
Historically, it has been brought in after coups, during protests, to suppress political dissent or stabilise insurrections.
It involves the military taking control of the normal legal system and control of civilians.
Ordinary laws and civil liberties may be suspended under martial law.
It is a drastic measure with significant implications for individual freedoms and the rule of law.
While it’s meant to be temporary, martial law can be indefinite.
Since taking office in 2022, Mr Yoon has struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament.
He has been a lame-duck president since the opposition won a landslide in parliament and was said to have “gone nuclear” by branding his enemies “anti-state.”
Yoon’s conservative People Power Party had been in a deadlock with the opposition Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill.
The president and his glamorous wife Kim Keon-hee have also been mired in corruption scandals in which she was accused of peddling her influence.
The UK government warned Brits in South Korea to avoid political protests in updated travel advice issued by the Foreign Office.
In a statement, the FCDO said: “We are closely monitoring the developing situation following the declaration of martial law in South Korea.”
President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed he was forced to crack down on the threat posed by opposition MPs who support the North Korean despot
AFPPeople gather in front of the main gate of the National Assembly in Seoul[/caption]
AFPPolice attempt to hold back people trying to enter the National Assembly in front of the main gate[/caption]
The military issued an order saying all activities at the parliament are banned
Police officers stand guard as the furious crowds try to get through the main gate
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in Pyongyang, North Korea
ARCHENEMIES
South Korea and North Korea have been archenemies for decades.
In recent years, border tensions have soared between the two nations who are technically still at war as a peace treaty was never signed after the 1950-1953 Korean War.
Pyongyang has amended its constitution to declare South Korea a “hostile state”.
Dictator Kim Jong-un has pulled out of treaties, demolished unification monuments, and blown up road and railway links connecting the two nations, sparking military tensions.
A Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was created to separate the two countries.
It is one of the most heavily mined places on Earth – strewn with landmines to deter enemy troops.
In recent months, tensions have also grown over balloons of trash floated from North Korea, which Pyongyang says are a response to balloons carrying anti-regime leaflets sent by activists in the South.
Earlier this year, South Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers twice in one week after troops crossed the border.
Meanwhile, deranged dictator Kim has been laying more landmines, reinforcing roads and adding what looks like anti-tank barriers on the South’s doorstep.
Satellite images suggest the North is also building new defence lines right on the border – risking “escalation” and “bloodshed”, experts have warned.
And Kim has been intensifying weapons tests as the US, South Korea and Japan host a flurry of war games in the region.
In a brazen intimidation move, North Korea sent a wave of 260 filthy faeces-filled balloons to South Korea.
Armed with an arsenal of nukes and chemical weapons, experts have warned a war with tyrant Kim Jong-un could be one of the bloodiest in history.
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