In a late-night television address on Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, 63, announced the implementation of emergency martial law, accusing the country’s primary opposition party, the Democratic Party, of aligning with North Korea and engaging in anti-state activities.

The President’s speech came after the opposition party pushed for a motion in the National Assembly aimed at impeaching senior prosecutors and rejecting a proposed government budget. Yoon condemned these actions, calling them “evident anti-state conduct intended to provoke insurrection,” claiming they disrupted state operations and transformed the National Assembly into a hub of criminality.

While Yoon did not specify the exact measures of the martial law, he defended the decision as necessary to protect the freedoms and security of South Korea’s citizens, safeguard national stability, and ensure a secure future for the nation. The announcement marked a significant escalation in the political tensions within the country.