Crisis averted: South Korean president retracts martial law
All eyes were on South Korea, where the president decided to declare martial law. Yoon Suk-yeol eventually withdrew the decision, which garnered approval from the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
President Yoon Suk-yeol announced martial law on Tuesday evening Greenwich Time, accusing the opposition of paralysing government work and sympathising with North Korea. As part of the decree, the military banned political activities, suspended the work of parliament and parties, and imposed media controls.
The police blocked entrances to the parliament building, where a crowd of martial law opponents had gathered. According to media reports, scuffles broke out, and special forces soldiers entered the building, as reported by the BBC.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed satisfaction with the South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's decision to lift martial law. The decree was reversed just a few hours after it had been implemented.
We continue to expect political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law – emphasised Antony Blinken.
Quick reaction of the National Assembly
The opposition managed to convene a parliamentary session, during which with 190 out of 300 members of the National Assembly present, a resolution calling for the repeal of martial law was adopted. After the vote, soldiers began leaving the parliament, and President Jun announced the lifting of martial law.
According to the South Korean Constitution, the president is obliged to adhere to the request to lift martial law if it is supported by a majority of the total number of National Assembly members. All those present in the chamber voted in favour, including 18 representatives of the People's Power Party, from the faction of party leader Han Dong Hun, as well as 172 members of the current opposition.
The decision to repeal martial law was met with relief both domestically and internationally, as highlighted by Antony Blinken's statement.
