Leaders of two main parties meet to discuss bipartisan cooperation amid political turmoil

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Leaders from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) met for talks in Seoul on Wednesday, several days after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol last Saturday. The meeting between the PPP's floor leader Kweon Seong-dong and the DP's leader Lee Jae-myung also came after Lee's proposal last week to create a bipartisan consultative body to address the current political

December 18, 2024

Military intelligence chief arrested on rebellion charges

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), an independent agency established to root out corruption in government, has arrested Moon Sang-ho, the chief of the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC) on charges of rebellion and other offenses. The CIO said that it apprehended Moon at around 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday with the assistance of the National Police Agency, after obtaining an arrest warrant for him the previous day. Moon is a

December 18, 2024

Data reveals soldiers equipped with thousands of live rounds during martial law raid

SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - Military soldiers who stormed the National Assembly shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law early this month were equipped with thousands of live rounds and 100 Taser cartridges, a lawmaker said on Tuesday. Data submitted to the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s four-term lawmaker Seo Young-ko by the Special Warfare Command (SWC) revealed that they took nearly 6,000 rounds including 3,960 live rounds and 1,9

December 18, 2024

National Assembly impeachment panel to form legal team of up to 20 members

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The National Assembly impeachment panel, tasked with acting as "prosecutors" in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, announced Tuesday it will form a legal team of up to 20 members. On Dec. 3, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Yoon declared emergency martial law, citing the need to eliminate "pro-North Korean forces and anti-government activities" to protect South Korea’s constitutional order. Following the declaration,

December 17, 2024

Defense ministry provides psychological support for soldiers deployed under martial law

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday it is offering psychological support programs for soldiers deployed as martial law forces to government facilities, including the National Assembly, on Dec. 3. "We respect the wishes of the soldiers deployed under martial law by providing a support system for psychological assessments and counseling. For those undergoing counseling, we are paying close attention and providing continuous support," the mini

December 17, 2024

President Yoon to defend himself at public impeachment hearing

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol will "firmly and confidently" defend his position during the public hearing for his impeachment trial, his legal representative said Tuesday. Yoon faces accusations of rebellion and abuse of power after being suspended from office on Dec. 14 when the National Assembly passed an impeachment bill with 204 votes in favor, 85 against, three invalid votes, and eight abstentions. The vote for the impeachment motion was spar

December 17, 2024

First lady earns 'Lady Macbeth' tag amid South Korea's marital law turmoil

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - British daily The Times has put its focus on first lady Kim Keon Hee over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. In an article on Monday headlined "South Koreans blame president's 'Lady Macbeth' for martial law," the daily wrote, "Critics suggest made his disastrous decision in part to protect his wife..... from investigation and potential prosecution." The tag may refer to the ambitious wife in Macbeth, one o

December 17, 2024

U.S. confirms North Korean casualties in Russia for first time

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Several U.S. officials have confirmed North Korean casualties for the first time since their deployment to Russia. "We do believe that they have suffered some significant losses, killed and wounded, but it's difficult for me to put an actual number on it. I would say, certainly in the realm of dozens, several dozens," said the White House's national security adviser John Kirby on Monday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller als

December 17, 2024

U.S. reaffirms strong alliance with South Korea amid Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The U.S. on Monday reaffirmed that its alliance with South Korea remains unaffected by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment last week. "There will be no diminution in the alliance" between the U.S. and South Korea, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. He added, "That alliance is not just an alliance between presidents. It is an alliance between governments and an alliance between peoples. And our commitment to that alli

December 17, 2024

Constitutional Court requests Yoon to submit response to impeachment trial by next week

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea has requested President Yoon Suk Yeol to submit a response to his impeachment trial after his failed martial law gambit early this month, a Constitutional Court justice said on Tuesday. The National Assembly passed a motion to impeach him last week, about 11 days after Yoon abruptly declared martial law on Dec. 3, citing the need to eradicate "pro-North Korean forces and their anti-government activities" to prote

December 17, 2024