SEOUL, December 3. /TASS/. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has promised to defeat "anti-state forces and normalize life in the state" as soon as possible as he declared martial law in an address broadcast by the YTN television channel.

"I will crush anti-state forces and return life in the country to normal as soon as possible," Yoon said. He noted that martial law could cause those citizens who support the country's constitution only "minor inconvenience."

The president said he had imposed martial law because the opposition, which makes up a majority in parliament, paralyzes the work of the executive branch of power by attempting to impeach of its executives, including key figures in the government. He emphasized that he was introducing the measure to combat "pro-North Korean elements" and to protect constitutional order.

"The National Assembly has become a haven for criminals, paralyzing the judicial and administrative systems and attempting to overthrow the free democratic system through legislative dictatorship," Yoon said. He also referred to the opposition's refusal to accept the Cabinet's budget proposal.