S. Korea rights group claims proof of second martial law declaration

SEOUL - South Korean rights group the Centre for Military Human Rights Korea revealed on Dec 6 that it has obtained proof that President Yoon Suk Yeol is preparing to impose martial law again in the near future.

South Korea’s Army commanders were ordered to stand by for an emergency call-up as the Army imposed a temporary ban on leave until Dec 8, according to the military human rights group, without disclosing the names of the commanders that it suspects had received such instructions.

This indication of Army bases maintaining an emergency readiness posture despite the lifting of the martial law on Dec 4 signals that the military is open to emergency deployment for a second martial law declaration, the group claimed.

“Yoon might carry on a riskier bet to gamble on the state affairs,” it claimed. “The declaration of martial law remains to be seen as a valid option for Yoon.”

Meanwhile, Representative Jo Seoung-lae, senior spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, told reporters on the morning of Dec 6 that the party’s 170 lawmakers would “not leave the National Assembly from today”, given that the party is being warned of chances of the second martial law imposition.

The South Korean Army denied the group’s accusation, saying it had not imposed a ban on leave at any point this week.

On Dec 5, the Democratic Party unveiled plans to put the motion to impeach Mr Yoon to vote at the National Assembly at 7pm on Dec 7. The impeachment motion was filed on Dec 4 and was reported to the plenary session on the morning of Dec 5.

Mr Yoon declared martial law at around 10.20pm on Dec 3. It has been in place from 11pm until around 4.30am the next day. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK