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

Two Army commanders arrested over martial law

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -- Two Army commanders were arrested Monday for their alleged roles in implementing martial law, which triggered the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol last week. A military court issued arrest warrants for Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, and Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, head of the Capital Defense Command, citing concerns about flight risk and possible destruction of evidence. The two commanders are accused of deploying tr

December 16, 2024

Constitutional Court to hold first public hearing on Yoon's impeachment on Dec. 27

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Constitutional Court said Monday it will hold the first public hearing on the parliamentary impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 27. The National Assembly voted Saturday to impeach Yoon following 10 days of political turmoil sparked by his short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Yoon's powers were suspended, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo assumed the role of acting president. The court is required to deliver its

December 16, 2024

Investigators fail to deliver summons to Yoon for questioning

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Investigators from a joint investigation team probing President Yoon Suk Yeol over his aborted declaration of martial law earlier this month failed to deliver a summons to him, as presidential security officials refused to accept it. The team, formed on Dec. 11, consists of members from the National Police Agency's Joint Investigation Headquarters, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defens

December 16, 2024

Ruling party chief resigns following Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), resigned on Monday, two days after President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment over his aborted declaration of martial law earlier this month. "I am stepping down from my position as party leader," Han said during a press conference. Han, who had initially vowed to remain in his position despite mounting pressure to step down, was forced to resign after all five of the PPP's elect

December 16, 2024

Joint investigation team to summon Yoon again for questioning

SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - A joint investigation team, tasked with probing President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt declaration of martial law earlier this month, announced on Monday that it will summon Yoon for questioning on Wednesday over accusations of rebellion and abuse of power. Once held, the questioning is set to take place four days after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach the president, suspending him from his duties immediately. The impeachment motion was appro

December 16, 2024