South Korean president declares state of martial law

The president of South Korea has declared “emergency martial law”, accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament and sympathising with North Korea.
Yoon Suk Yeol announced he was taking the step, which enacts temporary rule by the military, during a televised briefing, saying it was critical for defending the country’s 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,” Mr Yoon said.
It is not immediately clear how the steps will affect the country’s governance and democracy.
Since taking office in 2022, Mr Yoon has struggled to push his agendas against an opposition-controlled parliament.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Source : Sky News