South Korea’s president declares emergency martial law1

South Korea: The Yonhap News Agency is reporting that the leader of South Korean opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, has said the declaration of martial law is unconstitutional.

Yonhap is also reporting that Han Dong-hoon, the head of the ruling People Power Party – of which President Yoon Suk Yeol is a member – has also vowed to block the declaration, describing it as “wrong”.

In brief, martial law is a temporary rule by military authorities in a time of emergency, when the civil authorities are deemed unable to function.

The implementation of martial law can have legal impacts, such as the suspension of normal civil rights and the extension of military law.

Martial law is, in theory, temporary but it may continue indefinitely.

Let’s bring you more from President Yoon Suk Yeol now, who has just declared martial law in South Korea.

Yoon said the decision was made to remove pro-North Korea forces from the country and to protect the liberal constitutional order.

Yoon said he had no choice but to resort to martial law, but did not say in the address what specific measures will be taken.

In the last half hour, the president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, has declared martial law.

In an unannounced late night television address he says the move is necessary to protect the country from North Korea’s communist forces and to eliminate anti-state elements.

We’ll have more on this as we get it, so stay with us.