“Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said he would lift martial law after a cabinet meeting”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“We welcome President Yoon’s announcement that he will lift the martial law order in accordance with the South Korean Constitution after the National Assembly voted unanimously to reject the declaration. We continue to expect that political differences will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” said US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol announced that he would lift martial law after a cabinet meeting.
Late in the evening of December 3, the South Korean parliament voted to block the declaration of martial law in the country and call for its cancellation. About 190 legislators took part in the vote and unanimously supported this decision. Under South Korean law, martial law must be lifted when a majority in parliament demands it.
The leaders of the ruling and largest opposition party and the speaker of the parliament, as well as protesters gathered near the parliament building, called for the cancellation of the presidential decree on the introduction of martial law.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol declared a state of emergency in the country on Dec. 3, calling the opposition an “anti-state force” and saying he was acting to protect the country from “threats” from North Korea, without giving details.
As the local agency Yonhap writes, this decision was made after the opposition Democratic Party submitted a shortened draft budget to the parliamentary budget committee and made a motion to impeach the state auditor and the chief prosecutor.
The military then announced that the activities of the parliament and political parties would be banned and attempted to enter the parliament building.
After voting in parliament for a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law, the military left the building, local media reported.
This is the first time since 1980 that martial law has been declared in South Korea.