SEOUL, December 4. /TASS/. All members of South Korea's Cabinet of Ministers have informed the prime minister that they are ready to resign following the declaration and subsequent lifting of martial law, which lasted less than six hours, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported.
The prime minister's office confirmed that "all members of the Cabinet of Ministers" have expressed their intention to resign, but the final decision will be made after a meeting at 2:00 p.m. local time (5:00 a.m. GMT).
TASS has compiled the key details of the incident.
Martial law
- The day before, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the imposition of martial law.
- He justified his decision by stating that the opposition, which holds the majority of seats in parliament, was paralyzing the work of the executive branch by attempting to impeach its representatives, including key government figures. The South Korean leader emphasized that he was taking these measures to combat "pro-North Korean elements" and to protect the constitutional order.
- Several hours later, parliament voted to lift martial law. Subsequently, when the president promised to reverse his decision, the Cabinet of Ministers supported him.
- All of this occurred in less than six hours.
- Announcing his decision to lift martial law, Yoon Suk Yeol called on parliament to abandon its repeated attempts to impeach the president, as well as its legislative and budgetary schemes.
- Opposition parties, in turn, demanded the president's resignation and threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings.
- South Korea has not been under martial law for 45 years.
Reaction in the country
- Many employees of the South Korean presidential office have expressed their intention to resign, the Yonhap news agency reported. These include senior advisers and secretariat staff.
- All members of the South Korean Cabinet of Ministers have expressed their intention to resign, but the final decision will be made after a meeting at 2:00 p.m. local time (5:00 a.m. GMT).
- The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the largest labor union in South Korea, has announced an indefinite general strike that could last until the president resigns.
- The leading opposition Democratic Party plans to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol and Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun for treason, Yonhap reported.
- Its chairman, Lee Jae Myung, warned that the authorities' actions could provoke North Korea and lead to armed clashes on the Korean Peninsula.
Reaction in the world
- North Korea has not yet commented on the situation in South Korea.
- Events in South Korea have shown that the country is unpredictable in terms of stability, and North Korea is right to be concerned about its security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
- The Russian Embassy in Seoul called on its compatriots "to remain calm, follow the recommendations of the authorities, and refrain from participating in mass events, especially those of a political nature."
- The UN is monitoring the situation in South Korea closely and with concern, Secretary General’s spokesman St·phane Dujarric said at a briefing.
- The US is in touch with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region about the situation in South Korea, State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said at a regular briefing.
- The Washington administration views the lifting of martial law in South Korea positively and expects the country's authorities to resolve controversial issues peacefully, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
- US businessman Elon Musk called the situation with the introduction and lifting of martial law in South Korea "shocking."