In a surprise late-night speech that was aired live on television, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol proclaimed martial law on Tuesday.
Yoon claimed opposition parties had taken over the parliamentary process in order to plunge the nation into a crisis, and he had no alternative but to use such an action to protect free and constitutional order.
“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,” Yoon stated.
In the speech, he made no mention of the precise actions that will be performed.
