North Korea reports for 1st time on failed martial law attempt in South Korea

ISTANBUL

North Korean state media on Wednesday reported for the first time about South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.

While blaming Yoon for causing nationwide chaos, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that “the shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol regime...suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought havoc across South Korea.”

The report was also carried by the Rodong Sinmun daily.

It also carried a photo of a rally held in front of South Korea’s parliament in Seoul.

“Several helicopters and fully armed martial law forces, including the gangster organization the Army Special Warfare Command, were deployed to seal off the National Assembly,” the report said.

The detailed report described the martial law declaration announced late Tuesday last week and lifted within six hours as well as the failure of an impeachment motion against Yoon.

It quoted demonstrators calling Yoon a “disaster,” demanding his “immediate impeachment” and “punishment.”

“The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society...and that Yoon Suk Yeol's political life could face an early end," the report said.

Pyongyang had maintained silence since the political crisis was triggered by Yoon’s move.

Yoon has since been banned from overseas travel and faces several charges, including for insurrection and treason.

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was formally arrested Tuesday after being detained last Sunday.
Besides charges of treason and other violations of the law, Kim has been accused of plotting to trigger a war with North Korea to justify martial law.

Early Wednesday, police detained National Police Commissioner Cho Ji-ho as well as Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik in connection with an ongoing probe into the martial law declaration.

While the ruling People Power Party has opposed ousting Yoon through a parliamentary vote, the main opposition Democratic Party is set to launch a fresh impeachment motion against him on Wednesday.

Yoon, who was elected in 2022 for a five-year term, survived an impeachment motion last weekend after parliament failed to reach a quorum of 200 lawmakers.

With the support of 210 lawmakers, the opposition bloc on Tuesday passed a bill to appoint a special counsel to probe Yoon.