RIGHT NOW: Chaos in South Korea - military inside parliament

  

 
South Korea: Martial Law Against 'Communist Forces'

Nora Fernstedt,

Oskar Forsberg,

TT

Updated 17.32 | Published 14.41

Photo: AP

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol imposed a state of emergency and martial law.

The purpose was to protect the country against what he calls "communist forces" who he claims sympathize with the opposition.

Parliament lifted martial law in a vote after a few hours, according to Reuters.

            

           South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol has imposed a state of emergency

There was a state of emergency in South Korea earlier today. Martial law also applied.

- (It is happening) to secure a liberal South Korea from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements, President Yoon said on live television after making the decision.

It is unclear exactly what effect the president hoped the measure would have.

           

         

          1 / 2Photo: AP

Military in Parliament

The military said it had taken control of the country's media, according to Yonhap news agency.

The news agency wrote that the military has entered South Korea's parliament, and soldiers are trying to enter the plenary hall.

A little later, at 5 p.m. Swedish time, they left the parliament building.

The liberal opposition Democrats called their parliamentarians to a crisis meeting immediately after Yoon's announcement.

"Activities hostile to the state"

Yoon, who belongs to the conservative PPP, accuses the opposition in the country of conducting anti-state activities.

He claims that the opposition "paralyzes the state apparatus" and sympathizes with North Korea.

Sweden's ambassador to South Korea Karl-Olof Andersson tells Dagens Nyheter that the situation in the country right now is difficult to assess.

- It's quite messy. We are following the situation and making an assessment, says the ambassador.

Photo: AP

Budget dispute

The announcement came while the PPP and the opposition Democratic Party (DP) have still not agreed on next year's budget.

Last week, the opposition approved a significantly smaller budget through a committee.

The president of South Korea is both head of state and government as well as commander-in-chief.

But the opposition has a majority in parliament.

Since Yoon took office in 2022, he has had difficulty getting his policies through. He has also ducked independent investigations into corruption allegations involving his wife and senior officials.

After just a few hours, Reuters reported that the South Korean parliament repeals martial law in a vote. Applause must have erupted in the plenary hall.

"Following the development"

Four Swedish ministers - Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister of Business Ebba Busch, Minister of Defense Pål Jonson and Minister of Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa - will visit South Korea later this week.

At present, it is unclear whether the visit can be carried out.

- We are following the development of events in South Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently informing itself of the situation in the country and we will get back to you when we have a comprehensive picture of the situation. The prime minister, ministers Busch, Jonson and Dousa are currently in Japan, says the prime minister's press secretary Tom Samuelsson.

          

        

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol faces martial law or a special state of emergency, he announced in a televised appearance on Tuesday.

1 / 2Photo: Ahn Young-Joon/AP/TT