Earth Science News
DEMOCRACY
South Korean police raid president's office
South Korean police raid president's office
By Claire LEE, Hieun SHIN
Seoul (AFP) Dec 11, 2024

South Korean police raided President Yoon Suk Yeol's office on Wednesday as the investigation into his declaration of martial law gathered pace.

Prison authorities, meanwhile, said the country's former defence minister tried to kill himself shortly before his formal arrest over the events of the night of December 3.

The extraordinary drama saw troops and helicopters sent to parliament in an apparent -- but failed -- attempt to prevent lawmakers from voting down Yoon's martial law declaration.

The deeply unpopular Yoon is already under a travel ban as part of an "insurrection" probe into his inner circle.

On Wednesday, a special investigation unit of South Korea's police said it raided the presidential office as well as the National Police Agency, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Assembly Security Service.

A statement gave no further details.

Former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun tried to kill himself shortly before midnight on Tuesday (1500 GMT Tuesday) while in custody, authorities said.

Kim was first detained on Sunday. The suicide attempt took place shortly before he was formally arrested, the justice ministry and a prison official said.

They added that he was in good health on Wednesday.

Kim was arrested on charges of "engaging in critical duties during an insurrection" and "abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights".

The former defence minister said through his lawyers that "all responsibility for this situation lies solely with me" and that subordinates were "merely following my orders and fulfilling their assigned duties".

He had already been slapped with a travel ban along with the former interior minister and the general in charge of the martial law operation.

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were also arrested early Wednesday, police said.

- 'Fascist dictatorship' -

North Korean state media on Wednesday made its first comments about what it called the "chaos" in the South.

"The shocking incident of the puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who is facing impeachment and a governance crisis, suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought chaos across South Korea," a commentary said.

Yoon had said his declaration of martial law was intended, in part, to safeguard South Korea "from the threats posed by North Korea's communist forces and eliminate anti-state elements plundering people's freedom and happiness".

Relations between the two Koreas have been at one of their lowest points in years, with the North launching a flurry of ballistic missiles in violation of UN sanctions.

Former defence minister Kim had been accused by opposition lawmakers of calling for strikes on sites from which North Korea was launching trash-carrying balloons, an order reportedly refused by his subordinates.

He also allegedly ordered drones sent to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang in an apparent attempt to provoke a conflict as a pretext for declaring martial law.

- Task force -

Yoon survived an impeachment motion in parliament on Saturday even as tens of thousands of South Koreans braved freezing temperatures to demand his ouster.

Further smaller protests have continued every evening since, with polls showing record-low public support for Yoon.

A special task force within Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday proposed a plan for the president to resign in February or March, followed by fresh elections in April or May.

But the proposal has not yet been adopted by the party as a whole.

Even if approved, the roadmap is unlikely to head off another opposition attempt to impeach Yoon on Saturday.

The motion only needs eight members of Yoon's People Power Party (PPP) to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.

Last week, two PPP lawmakers -- Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Yea-ji -- voted in favour, and two more said Tuesday they would support the motion this time.

burs-stu/cwl

TEAM SA

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
South Korea ex-defence chief reportedly arrested as president hangs on
Seoul (AFP) Dec 8, 2024
South Korea's former defence minister was arrested Sunday, local media reported, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol survived an impeachment vote over his calamitous attempt to impose martial law. The motion failed due to a boycott of the vote by Yoon's party, even though huge crowds braved freezing temperatures in another night of protests outside parliament in Seoul to demand the president's ouster. Kim Yong-hyun had already resigned as defence minister after the brief suspension of civilian r ... read more

DEMOCRACY
Natural disasters cause $310bn in economic losses in 2024: Swiss Re

India, Pakistan share climate challenges but not solutions

13 missing after south China railway construction site collapse

Eight dead after 'overloaded' boat capsizes in southwest China

DEMOCRACY
Space Machines expands global partnerships with UK collaboration to address space debris

Unlocking the potential of collagen modulation for biomaterials in human health

How Deinococcus Radiodurans thrives in extreme radiation

Scientists create coral-inspired material for effective bone repair

DEMOCRACY
NASA Missions offer integrated insights into ocean dynamics and ecosystems

Copenhagen takes on its biggest climate threat -- water

Billions could gain access to freshwater with new desalination technology

Coral reefs face mounting threat from warming oceans

DEMOCRACY
Will the Ross Ice Shelf melt

The Bering Bog Bridge

Canada bolstering Arctic presence in face of Russia threat

Antarctic ice melting accelerates under planetary orbital changes

DEMOCRACY
Agricultural land at river confluences reduces flood risks

Gene editing and plant domestication vital to safeguard global food security

Neem seed extract improves effectiveness of pesticide

Brazil's beef industry: key to EU-Mercosur trade deal

DEMOCRACY
Spain royals join memorial mass for flood victims

Five dead, seven missing in Indonesia floods, landslides; Storm Darragh batters UK

Evacuations underway as Philippine volcano erupts

Quake sparks brief tsunami warning in California

DEMOCRACY
Hundreds in Chad call for French forces to leave

Air strike on Khartoum mosque kills 7: Sudan lawyers' group

'Can't leave them to it': ex-child soldier urges help for Sudan kids

In Angola, Biden promises to invest differently to China

DEMOCRACY
Iberian Neolithic expertise in archery revealed by exceptional findings in Spain

How humans and dogs began their longstanding bond 12000 years ago

Earliest ritual space in southwest asia discovered in Galilee cave

Traces of 10000-year-old rice beer unearthed at neolithic site in China

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.