US Appeals Court Vacates Nasdaq Board Diversity Rule

Yoon, South Korean President, Stands by Martial Law Decree, Promises to Keep Fighting

December 12, 2024 TruthUSA

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeo stated in a televised address to the nation that his actions did not amount to insurrection.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on December 11 that he will continue to “fight to the end” in response to efforts to impeach him following a brief declaration of martial law earlier this month.

During a televised speech lasting less than 30 minutes, Yoon explained that he declared martial law on December 3 as a warning to the opposition Democratic Party. He accused them of having sympathies with North Korea and using their legislative power to impeach senior officials and sabotage the government’s budget bill for the upcoming year.

He clarified that the martial law declaration and his decision to deploy troops to the National Assembly did not constitute an act of insurrection.

“I will continue to fight to prevent the criminal groups that have disrupted the government and threatened the future of South Korea,” Yoon declared. He also criticized the opposition for calling the martial law declaration an act of rebellion.

Yoon defended his decision to send troops to the parliament, stating that it was intended to maintain order, not dismantle or paralyze it.

“The National Assembly, predominantly controlled by the opposition party, has become a force that undermines the constitutional order of liberal democracy,” Yoon asserted. “If this is not a situation of government paralysis and a national crisis, then what is it?”

Kim Min-seok, a senior member of the Democratic Party, referred to Yoon’s speech as “extremely delusional” and as a “declaration of war against the people.”

He mentioned that his party is working towards passing a second motion to impeach Yoon on December 14.

The initial vote failed as most members of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP) boycotted it, resulting in a lack of the two-thirds majority required in the 300-member parliament to suspend his presidential authority.

It is anticipated that at least seven members of the party will support the impeachment motion on December 14.

Yoon triggered nationwide protests when he announced martial law, only to retract it six hours later after facing unanimous opposition from the National Assembly.

Apart from the impending impeachment, prosecutors have initiated a treason investigation against Yoon, his interior minister, and the former defense minister— who has since been replaced— for their alleged involvement in the attempted enforcement of martial law, as reported by local media.

During his speech on December 11, Yoon also discussed the detention of three Chinese students caught allegedly using a drone to unlawfully film a U.S. aircraft carrier anchored in Busan in June.

He also mentioned a separate incident from last month where a Chinese national was arrested for flying a drone over the National Intelligence Service headquarters in southern Seoul, South Korea.

“Under current laws, there is currently no way to penalize foreign espionage, and we have attempted to amend the criminal act to address this issue but have been obstructed by the opposition,” Yoon highlighted.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source link