THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Attempt to arrest S Korea president Yoon suspended after dramatic standoff

 

South Korean investigators have called off an attempt to arrest suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol after a dramatic six-hour standoff with the security team outside his home.

"We've determined that the arrest is practically impossible," said the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which has been investigating Yoon's short-lived martial law declaration.

"Next steps will be decided after review," the CIO said, adding that Yoon's "refusal of the legal process" is "deeply regrettable".

Yoon's supporters, who have been camped out in front of the presidential residence for days, cheered in song and dance as the suspension was announced. "We won!" they chanted.

The CIO said that concern for the safety of the team on the ground was another factor in their decision to call off the attempted arrest.

Investigators have until 6 January to arrest Yoon before the current warrant expires. They can, however, apply for a new warrant and try to detain him again.

Since early morning, dozens of police vans lined the street outside Yoon's residence in central Seoul.

At about 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT), an arrest team made up of police officers and CIO members marched towards the compound.

This started out with a 20-strong team, but quickly multiplied to some 150 people.

While about half of the arrest team was able to get inside, they were locked for hours in a standoff with security officers - who are still responsible for protecting Yoon, despite him being stripped of his powers - and a military unit responsible for protecting the city of Seoul.

At one point the security team engaged in a "confrontation with the CIO at the presidential residence", an official with Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.

Before the attempt was stood down, Yoon's security team told the news agency they had been "in negotiation" with the investigators who sought to access the president.

Yoon's legal team was also seen entering the residence slightly past noon local time.

His lawyer Yoon Gab-keun had earlier said they would take legal action over the arrest warrant, which they called "illegal and invalid".

A Seoul court issued the arrest warrant early this week, after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning over the past fortnight.

On Friday, prosecutors also indicted on insurrection charges army chief Park An-su, who was named martial law commander during the brief declaration last month, and special forces commander Kwak Jong-geun, according to Seoul-based news outlet Yonhap.

They are to face trial while in prison.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea police raid Jeju Air, airport over fatal crash

 

South Korean police on Thursday raided the offices of Jeju Air and the operator of Muan International Airport as part of the probe into the fatal crash of a Boeing 737-800 plane that killed 179 people.

The flight was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea on Sunday when it issued a mayday call and belly-landed before slamming into a barrier, killing everyone aboard except two flight attendants pulled from the burning wreckage.

Authorities carried out search and seizure operations at the Muan airport where flight 2216 crashed, a regional aviation office in the southwestern city, and Jeju Air's office in the capital Seoul.

South Korean and US investigators, including from Boeing, have been combing the crash site since the disaster to establish a cause, with both black boxes found and decoding work ongoing.

"In relation to the plane accident... a search and seizure operation is being conducted from 9 am (0000 GMT) on January 2 at three locations," police said in a statement sent to AFP.

"The police plan to swiftly and rigorously determine the cause and responsibility for this accident in accordance with the law and principles."

Police told AFP the search warrant was issued, and Yonhap reported it was approved on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, citing officials.

South Korea has also announced it will inspect all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by its carriers, focusing on the landing gear, which appears to have malfunctioned during the Sunday crash.

South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, said Thursday that "immediate action" must be taken if that probe uncovered any issues with the aircraft model.

Authorities have previously said 101 aircraft of the same model were in operation by six different airlines.

"As there's great public concern about the same aircraft model involved in the accident, the transport ministry and relevant agencies must conduct a thorough inspection of operation maintenance, education, and training," Choi said Thursday.

"If any issues are found during the inspection, please take immediate corrective action," he added.

The accident is the worst-ever aviation disaster on South Korean soil.

South Korean authorities have completed the initial extraction of data for the cockpit voice recorder, but the flight data recorder was damaged and was to be sent to the United States for analysis, officials said Wednesday.

Officials initially pointed to a bird strike as a possible cause of the disaster, and have since said the probe was also examining a concrete barrier at the end of the runway.

Dramatic video showed the plane colliding with it before bursting into flames.

The land ministry said in a statement that the country's airports were also being inspected "to evaluate the installation locations" around their runways.

As the investigation continued, families travelled to the crash site for the first time to pay their respects on Wednesday and some returned the following day with cardboard boxes to collect their loved ones's belongings.

On Thursday at the airport, a monk led prayers close to the crash site, while inside the airport, the stairs were covered in colourful post-it notes left by mourners.

"Honey, I miss you way too much," one of them said.

"Even if you faced lonely and painful moments in death, may you now soar like a butterfly," another read.

Relatives also left flowers and food near the site including tteokguk —- rice cake soup traditionally enjoyed in South Korea on New Year's Day —- as they said their goodbyes, many in tears.

Local media reported on a handwritten note, seemingly written by the pilot's brother, that was placed alongside gimbap -- a popular Korean dish -- and a drink cup near the crash site.

"I feel heartbroken when I think about the struggles you faced alone (in your last moments)," it read.

"You were truly amazing and did so well, so I hope you can now find happiness in a warm place. Thank you, and I'm sorry."

On Wednesday -- a public holiday in the South -- hundreds of people queued up to pay their respects at an airport memorial altar set up to honour the victims.

So many people came to the memorial that the queue stretched for hundreds of metres and the local cell phone network was overloaded, local media reported.

Other altars for the victims have been set up nationwide.

Source: Agence-France-Presse

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Seoul to Inspect All Boeing 737-800 Aircraft in Country following Jeju Air Crash

 

The government said Monday it plans to conduct a safety inspection of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by domestic airlines following a Jeju Air Co. plane crash that claimed 179 lives the previous day.

In Sunday’s Jeju Air crash in the southwestern county of Muan, it is believed that all three landing gears had failed to operate properly. The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing B737-800.

A transport ministry official said the government plans to thoroughly examine whether various regulations of the Boeing model are being properly followed by airlines, which would check their aircraft utilization rates, flight inspections and maintenance records.

The Boeing 737-800 is widely operated by domestic low-cost carriers. Jeju Air operates the largest number of this model, with 39 aircraft in its fleet. Other operators include T’way Air with 27 aircraft, Jin Air with 19 and Eastar Jet with 10.

The ministry, in particular, plans to conduct rigorous safety inspections of Jeju Air following repeated landing gear issues.

Earlier in the day, a separate Jeju Air flight of the same aircraft model made a return after taking off from Gimpo International Airport due to a landing gear issue that was found similarly in Sunday’s crash. It was of the same Boeing B737-800 model involved in the accident.

“We plan to implement rigorous aviation safety inspections in response to the (landing gear) incidents,” Joo Jong-wan, aviation policy chief at the transport ministry, said during a briefing at the Sejong government complex.

Joo noted that Jeju Air was known for its high aircraft utilization rate, which some observers have pointed to as a possible factor in Sunday’s crash.

Following the landing gear issue reported on Monday, the ministry dispatched safety inspectors to the company to investigate the latest case.

Meanwhile, one of the two flight recording devices recovered from the crash site has been found with external damage, according to Joo. It has been transported to Gimpo International Airport for further analysis.

The ministry official also said the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will participate in the investigation into the crash. Boeing and engine manufacturer CFM International have also been approached for cooperation.

Source: Yonhap/Korea Bizwire

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: 179 feared dead in worst aviation disaster in South Korea

 

A tragic plane crash at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning has claimed at least 124 lives as of 3:30 p.m., with authorities warning the death toll could rise to 179 in what is South Korea's worst domestic aviation disaster to date.

The Jeju Air flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800, carrying 181 passengers and crew, was attempting to land when it veered off the runway. Two minutes after the pilot called mayday, the plane collided with the perimeter fence and burst into flames, according to the Transport Ministry.

According to the Jeonnam Fire Services Headquarters Wednesday, most of those onboard were likely deceased, leaving two survivors, which are reported to be crew members, one male and one female. The passengers on the crashed plane included 173 South Koreans and two Thai nationals, according to authorities.

No additional survivors had been found among the passengers, and the condition of the wreckage suggested that hopes for more survivors were slim, fire authorities said in a briefing to families of those on board.

The aircraft's fuselage was completely destroyed in the crash, making the identification of victims extremely difficult. Rescue teams were continuing their efforts to locate the remains of missing passengers, while temporary mortuaries had been set up to house the bodies recovered.

Many of the remains were severely damaged, complicating the process of identification, authorities added.

President of Jeju Air Co Ltd. Kim E-bae expressed his sympathy and apologized to the passengers who lost their lives and their bereaved families in the aftermath of the tragic crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport, pledging full cooperation with the government to uncover the cause of the accident.

Taking responsibility as the airline’s top executive, Kim added, “Regardless of the cause, I deeply feel my responsibility as CEO. Jeju Air will do everything in its power to expedite recovery efforts and provide full support to the families of the victims.”

Kim stated that the cause of the crash remains unclear and emphasized that the airline is awaiting official investigation results from government authorities. “At this point, it is difficult to determine the cause of the accident, and we must wait for the official findings from the relevant government agencies,” he said.

A Jeju Air representative also noted that the crashed aircraft, a 15-year-old Boeing 737-800, had no prior history of accidents. The airline was working to identify the precise cause of the crash and clarify the circumstances surrounding it, the representative said.

Meanwhile, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance designated Muan as a special disaster zone.

Choi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting the extensive loss of life and the urgent need for a coordinated response. “The government has activated the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and will deploy all necessary resources. We will officially declare Muan as a special disaster zone to ensure effective relief and recovery efforts,” he stated.

The designation of a special disaster zone, as outlined under the Framework Act on Disaster and Safety Management, allows for enhanced administrative, financial and medical support in affected regions. This includes emergency relief, disaster recovery plans, and financial aid for victims and their families.

Under this designation, joint investigation teams comprising disaster management agencies will conduct assessments and draft a recovery plan tailored to the severity of the disaster. These measures aim to expedite both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation for affected individuals and communities.

Authorities remained focused on recovery operations and the identification of victims as investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue. Some 720 officials, including personnel from the airport, fire fighters, police, military and coast guards were deployed to the scene.

The aircraft departed from Bangkok at 1:30 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Muan at 8:30 a.m. During its first landing attempt on runway No. 1, the plane failed to land and performed a go-around, a flight maneuver where a pilot chooses to abort a landing and return to the air to fly round and try again.

On its second attempt, the landing gear malfunctioned, leading to an emergency belly landing near the runway's end, according to authorities. A belly landing, also known as a gear-up landing, is an emergency landing where an aircraft lands on its underside, or belly, without its landing gear fully extended.

Unable to decelerate fully, the plane struck airport perimeter fences at speed, resulting in its destruction and instant fire, according to the authorities.

Emergency personnel, including 80 firefighters, were immediately deployed to the site. The fire was first controlled within 43 minutes, and rescue efforts began from the rear of the aircraft. Two survivors were rescued, but authorities feared that more dead would be discovered as they continued to search the wreckage.

Initial investigations pointed to a "bird strike" as the likely cause of the landing gear malfunction. This occurs when an aircraft collides with a flock of birds or when birds enter the engine.

Source: The Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea votes to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo

 

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president Han Duck-soo, two weeks after parliament voted to impeach its President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A total of 192 lawmakers voted for his impeachment, more than the 151 votes needed for it to succeed.

Prime minister Han took over the role after President Yoon was impeached by parliament following his failed attempt to impose martial law on 3 December.

Han was supposed to lead the country out of its political turmoil, but opposition MPs argued that he was refusing demands to complete Yoon's impeachment process.

Chaos erupted in parliament as the vote was held on Friday.

Lawmakers from Yoon and Han's ruling People Power Party (PPP) protested after National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik announced that only 151 votes would be needed to pass the impeachment bill.

This meant that, unlike the 200 votes required for Yoon's impeachment, no votes from ruling lawmakers would be needed this time for Han to be impeached in parliament.

Ruling party MPs gathered in the middle of the voting chamber chanting, "invalid!" and "abuse of power!" in response, and called for the Speaker to step down. Most of them boycotted the vote.

Han will be suspended from his duties as soon as he is officially notified by parliament.

The opposition first filed an impeachment motion against Han on Thursday after he blocked the appointment of three judges that parliament had chosen to oversee Yoon's case.

Korea's Constitutional Court is typically made up of a nine-member bench. At least six judges must uphold Yoon's impeachment in order for the decision to be upheld.

There are currently only six judges on the bench, meaning a single rejection would save Yoon from being removed.

The opposition had hoped the three additional nominees would help improve the odds of Yoon getting impeached.

This is the first time an acting president has been impeached since South Korea became a democracy.

Finance minister Choi Sang-mok is set to replace Han as acting president.

Like Yoon, Han's impeachment will need to be confirmed by the constitutional court, which has 180 days to rule on whether the impeachment should be upheld.

"I respect the decision of the National Assembly," Han said Friday, adding that he "will wait for the Constitutional Court's decision."

He also said that he would suspend his duties to "not add to the chaos".

On 3 December, Yoon took the country by surprise as he declared that he was imposing martial law, citing the need to protect the country from "anti-state" forces.

Hours later he reversed the order after 190 MPs voted it down, with many of them climbing fences and breaking barricades to get into the voting chamber.

Yoon later apologised but said he had sought to protect the country's democracy.

Since then, Yoon and his allies have been dogged by the political and legal repercussions of the short-lived martial law order.

Top officials from Yoon's government have been arrested and indicted on allegations of insurrection, while Yoon is facing an impeachment trial. However, the suspended president, who is banned from leaving the country, has been defying summons from investigating authorities.

On Friday, the Korean won plunged to its lowest level against the dollar since the global financial crisis 16 years ago - with both parties blaming each other for the chaos.

Han's removal will likely intensify the political gridlock and uncertainty the country is currently grappling with.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Yoon Suk Yeol says he will never succumb to impeachment

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Saturday that he would never succumb to the threat of impeachment, after the National Assembly voted 204-85 in favor of a motion that could eventually dethrone the incumbent president.

"I will never surrender," he said in his fifth address to the nation in the past two weeks since his imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

"I will cherish any reprimand, encouragement and support you show to me, and I will do my best for the country until the end," he added, in a speech delivered in his official residence in Hannam-dong of Yongsan-gu, central Seoul.

Recounting past achievements such as the handling of economic problems he said stemmed from misdeeds of his liberal predecessors, a U-turn from the nuclear phaseout that led to the Czech Republic's selection of a South Korean consortium as a preferred bidder in a nuclear power plant project and a revival of trilateral ties between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, Yoon said, "I pause my journey here for a while, but our journey with the people over the past 2 1/2 years toward the future must not stop.

Yoon also asked public officials to gather strength in difficult times and show support for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who serves as acting president for the time being.

Yoon's duty as the president was suspended at 7:24 p.m. under the National Assembly Act, hours after the parliament voted in favor of the impeachment motion. This came as a secretary in the presidential office received an original copy of the impeachment resolution delivered by representatives of the legislative body led by former three-term lawmaker and the National Assembly secretary-general Kim Min-ki.

As Yoon faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, Yoon's legal representatives will begin working to defend the 63-year-old conservative president from accusations of insurrection through his martial law imposition on Dec. 3. Presidential security will remain in place at his official residence during his trial, which is to not last for more than six months.

Yoon's spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.

Saturday's speech follows a prior one on Thursday, in which he sought to justify his attempt to wield military power to take control of the opposition-controlled National Assembly and election authorities. Yoon then claimed his martial law declaration was a high-caliber political decision by the president and it had been made within the constitutional framework.

Hundreds of wreaths with plastic flowers, presumably from Yoon's avid supporters, lined the wall outside the presidential office in Yongsan on Saturday. Ribbons on the wreaths read, "You are the patriot who saved the country," "We must protect President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Cheer up President Yoon Suk Yeol," "Justice will prevail" and "Death sentence to election fraudsters," among others.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: TV cancellations and changes for Saturday due to schedueld National Assembly Vote

 

With the National Assembly scheduled to vote on a second motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, many TV shows have announced cancellations and changes to their broadcast schedules.

MBC’s “Music Core” will not air on Saturday for the second week in a row. Instead, the music show will air on Sunday, December 15 at 2:05 p.m. KST. MBC’s variety show “How Do You Play?” has also cancelled its December 14 broadcast.

JTBC’s variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) and drama “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air new episodes on December 14. “The Tale of Lady Ok” will return on December 15 at 10:30 p.m. KST, when it will air Episode 4.

Channel A’s drama “Marry YOU” will also take the night off on December 14, with Episodes 9 and 10 now scheduled to air consecutively on December 15 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

KBS 2TV will not air Episode 2 of its variety show “Moving Voices in Germany” as previously scheduled. Instead, it will air “Moving Voices Special – From Majorca to München” during the show’s usual time slot on December 14.

Source: soompi

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S Korea's President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'

 

Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has defended his shock decision to declare martial law last week, saying he did it to protect the country's democracy.

In a surprise televised address on Thursday, he said the attempt was a legal decision to "prevent the collapse" of democracy and counter the opposition's "parliamentary dictatorship".

Yoon has suggested that he would not step down ahead of a second vote to impeach him in parliament on Saturday.

"I will stand firm whether I'm impeached or investigated," he said. "I will fight to the end".

The president and his allies are facing investigations on insurrection charges, and he and several of them have been banned from leaving South Korea.

On Thursday, the opposition-led parliament voted to impeach police chief Cho Ji-ho and justice minister Park Sung-jae. The two officials have been immediately suspended.

Unlike impeachment motions against presidents, which require 200 votes in the 300-strong National Assembly to be passed, other officials can be impeached with 150 votes.

In his address, his first since his apology over the weekend, Yoon denied that his martial law order was an act of insurrection, claiming that his political rivals were creating "false incitement" to bring him down.

Yoon repeated many of the same arguments that he used on the night he declared martial law: that the opposition was dangerous, and that by seizing control, he had been trying to protect the public and defend democracy.

However, Yoon added that he would not avoid his "legal and political responsibilities".

Last Saturday, an attempt by opposition lawmakers to impeach the president failed after members of his own ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote. But opposition members are set to hold another impeachment vote this weekend and have vowed to hold one every Saturday until Yoon is removed from office.

The floor leader of the PPP, Choo Kyung-ho, stepped down after the failed impeachment attempt, and on Thursday the party elected Kwon Seong-dong, a Yoon loyalist, as his replacement.

Kwon told reporters on Thursday that he would hold discussions with PPP lawmakers on whether they should continue opposing Yoon's impeachment.

Yoon's party had been hoping to convince the president to leave office early, rather than force him out.

Minutes before Yoon spoke, his party leader Han Dong-hoon appeared on television saying it had become clear that the president was not going to step aside. Han then urged members of the party to vote to remove him from office this Saturday.

The opposition tabled another impeachment motion on Thursday, setting the stage for a vote at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT) Saturday.

If South Korea's parliament passes the impeachment bill, a trial would be held by the Constitutional Court. Two-thirds of that court would have to sustain the majority for Yoon to be removed from office permanently.

Yoon has been a lame duck president since the opposition won the April general election by a landslide - his government has not been able to pass the laws it wanted and has been reduced to vetoing bills proposed by the opposition.

Yoon also accused North Korea sympathisers of trying to undermine his government when he declared martial law on the night of 3 December.

The announcement plunged the country into political turmoil. Protesters faced off against security forces in front of the National Assembly building while lawmakers scrambled to vote down Yoon's order.

Yoon withdrew his martial law order hours after it was blocked by lawmakers.

Since then, the country has remained on edge. There have been huge protests and strikes calling for Yoon's impeachment, and the presidential office was raided on Wednesday as Yoon faces multiple investigations on charges of insurrection and treason.

Meanwhile, ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned and took responsibility for announcing martial law, attempted suicide while in detention on Tuesday, officials said. He is in a stable condition.

Source: BBC News

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Joint investigation team on Yoon launched

 

A joint investigative body was formed on Wednesday to investigate President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law, amid concerns over overlapping investigations into the high-profile case that deals with allegations of insurrection of a sitting president.

The Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation said it would work together with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Defense Ministry "to leverage the strengths of each institution and eliminate confusion and inefficiencies." The joint team excludes the prosecution which has been competing with the police and the CIO to take the lead in the insurrection investigation.

The police previously declined the prosecutors' request for a joint investigation last week.

The announcement comes hours after the police arrested Korea National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Head Kim Bong-sik without a warrant on charges of insurrection early Wednesday, detaining the top two police officials simultaneously for the first time. Both officials were placed under a travel ban as of Tuesday.

The police officials were placed under emergency arrest at 3:50 a.m. following lengthy interrogations lasting up to 11 hours for Cho and 10 hours for Kim.

Both Cho and Kim are accused of directing police officials to block access to the National Assembly when martial law was declared on Dec. 3 to prevent lawmakers from entering the parliament to repeal the martial law decree. Cho is also suspected of sending police personnel to the National Election Commission to assist the military in carrying out orders issued under martial law.

A police official told Yonhap News Agency that the emergency arrests were made considering that insurrection charges are “serious offenses which are punishable by death” and because there were “concerns regarding the possibility of evidence tampering.”

Through additional investigations, police officials plan to decide whether to request arrest warrants for Cho and Kim. Both chiefs will be released if such warrants are not filed or granted within 48 hours.

With both leading police officials absent for the time being, Lee Ho-young, the Deputy Commissioner of the KNPA, will serve as the acting commissioner, while Choi Hyun-seok, the Chief of the SMPA’s Life Safety Division, will take over as the acting head.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Motion to impeach Yoon Suk Yeol scrapped

 

The motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol for his declaration of martial law earlier this week was scrapped Saturday, after his ruling party defended the embattled leader by refusing to vote.

Even if Yoon has officially avoided impeachment, political turmoil is projected to continue, with the main opposition pledging to repeatedly submit impeachment motions until Yoon is suspended.

The motion was defeated in Saturday's plenary session, after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority, support from 200 out of the 300 members, in the National Assembly.

Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik apologized to the people on "behalf of the parliament" as he announced the Assembly's failure to pass the motion.

Most ruling People Power Party lawmakers left the chamber shortly after voting against a bill to launch a special counsel investigation into first lady Kim Keon Hee. People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who previously said he would vote in favor of the motion if Yoon refused to step down, remained in the chamber to cast his vote. Reps. Kim Yea-ji and Kim Sang-wook left the chamber at first but returned to participate in the vote.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers could not hide their disappointment as ruling party lawmakers walked out of the chamber to protest the vote.

The ruling party, which holds 108 seats in the Assembly, maintained an official stance of voting against the impeachment motion, despite few of its members having expressed willingness to vote in favor, both openly and indirectly, in recent days.

This marked the third time the National Assembly submitted a motion to impeach the president.

The previous two were passed by the Assembly in March 2004 and Dec. 9, 2016 against late President Roh Moo-hyun and former President Park Geun-hye, respectively. The Constitutional Court ultimately rejected the motion against Roh, while confirming Park's impeachment.

The main opposition, around noon, revealed plans to “repeatedly” draft and submit impeachment motions against Yoon if the proposal fails to pass the Assembly on Saturday.

“We will repeatedly float (the impeachment motion until it is passed in the Assembly),” main opposition leader and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung said in a press briefing.

The next motion would be submitted and put to vote on Dec. 11, during an extraordinary plenary meeting, according to Democratic Party Floor Leader Park Chan-dae. The opposition coalition has accused Yoon of committing treason when he had troops break into the Assembly under martial law.

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets around 3 p.m. to either call for the ouster of Yoon or for the Assembly to vote against the impeachment motion.

While Yoon has dodged impeachment for the time being, the ruling bloc is expected to try to come up with a solution to stabilize the political situation, which observers said could include measures to loosen the current president's grip on state affairs.

Yoon, in a brief televised address aired Saturday morning, said that he would “leave it up to” his party to “take steps to stabilize the political situation,” including the issue of his term in office. He also apologized to the public for causing concerns due to his surprise martial law decree.

Around noon, the ruling party leader held an 80-minute meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who would serve as the country’s leader in an acting capacity if the president resigned.

The two sides have decided to closely communicate and oversee the economic issues concerning the people’s livelihoods, according to the ruling party chief.

People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon told reporters in the morning that “it is inevitable for the president” to step down from his position earlier than expected after Yoon’s apology to the public was televised. He cited the president’s inability to carry out his duties as president behind his claim.

But he did not provide details on how Yoon should step down such as impeachment or constitutional amendment that would cap the presidential term to four years instead of the current single five-year term. The proposed amendment would allow a president to be elected for a total of eight years, or two four-year terms. This would end Yoon's term early, in May 2026, and he would technically not have the option of reelection.

Several in the conservative ruling bloc in recent days have floated ideas of bolstering the constitutional power of the prime minister. The “pro-Han Dong-hoon” faction ruling party lawmakers pushed for a constitutional amendment to change the limit of the presidential term as a key resolution as another solution.

On top of the main opposition's plan to continue floating impeachment motions, Yoon is expected to be subjected to multiple investigations from law enforcement agencies.

Two law enforcement agencies announced they would form separate investigation teams looking into Yoon’s martial law decree as of Friday, with observers saying the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials could carry out its own investigation.

The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office announced Friday that it had formed a special investigative unit for the “cases tied to martial law decree.” The team will be led by Park Se-hyun, chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office, and will be jointly conducted with military prosecutors, the top prosecution office explained.

Police said earlier in the week they established a designated investigation team of some 120 personnel to look into four complaints accusing Yoon and others of treason, mutiny and abuse of power in connection with his martial law decree.

The revote on a bill that mandates special counsel investigation into multiple scandals surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee, including her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation case that unfolded more than a decade ago, was held before the vote on the impeachment motion. The bill was scrapped in the revote, with 102 voting against and 198 voting in favor. In a revote, a bill requires at least two-thirds of the Assembly to vote in favor to pass.

The bill, which marks the third of its kind targeting the first lady, was passed by the opposition-led Assembly on Nov. 14, in a simple majority, and was vetoed by Yoon on Nov. 26.

Yoon’s popularity, which has been steadily falling since he first took office in May 2022, fell to a record low of 13 percent, according to the survey conducted by Gallup on 1,001 adults aged over 18 from Tuesday to Thursday. It was down by 6 percentage points on-week.

Source: Korea Herald

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Dramas and Variety Shows announce broadcast schedule changes and cancellations amid political turmoil

 

Amid escalating political unrest in South Korea, major changes to TV programming have been announced, affecting both variety shows and dramas.

MBC announced that several of its popular variety programs, including “Music Core,” “Home Alone” (“I Live Alone”), “How Do You Play?,” and “The Manager” will not air to accommodate extended coverage of “News Desk” and special news reports.

Similarly, JTBC has confirmed the cancellation of its flagship variety show “Knowing Bros” (“Ask Us Anything”) for this week.

Dramas are also seeing significant schedule changes. MBC’s drama “When the Phone Rings” will not air its 5th and 6th episodes this week—originally set to air on December 6 and 7—due to special news broadcasts. Episode 5 will instead air next week on December 13.

SBS stated, “Episode 9 of ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ will air as planned tonight (December 6), but Episode 10, scheduled for December 7, will be postponed due to special news coverage.” SBS’s music show “Inkigayo” will also not air on December 8.

JTBC’s “The Tale of Lady Ok” will not air its 3rd episode on December 7, but will instead air the episode on December 8 at 10:30 p.m. KST.

Channel A’s weekend drama “Marry YOU” will skip its December 7 airing and instead air a back-to-back broadcast of Episodes 7 and 8 on December 8 at 7:50 p.m. KST.

The changes in these TV schedules follow a series of dramatic political events in South Korea. On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an emergency address. However, just two hours later, the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the revocation of martial law, prompting President Yoon Suk Yeol to issue a statement at 4:30 a.m. KST announcing its termination.

Despite the lifting of martial law, the political aftermath continues to unfold, with opposition parties intensifying efforts to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. A vote on the impeachment motion is scheduled for December 7.

Source: soompi

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Opposition parties submit motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol

 

South Korea's six opposition parties on Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the martial law declaration the previous day.

The six parties - the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, and minor oppositions Rebuilding Korea Party, Reform Party, Jinbo Party, Basic Income Party and Social Democratic Party - plan to put the motion to the plenary session on Thursday, and to put it to the vote on Friday or Saturday.

The main opposition had hinted at such a move hours after opposition parties hinted at proceeding with an immediate impeachment of President Yoon shortly after he agreed to the parliament's request to lift martial law.

A group of over 40 lawmakers from opposition parties declared that the Assembly should impeach Yoon, calling him "the mastermind of a treasonous act of state mismanagement."

Hwang Un-ha, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said, "The president committed an act tantamount to treason by mobilizing the military. It is clear that he cannot remain in office even for a moment longer. Therefore, we must urgently pass an impeachment motion."

Hwang urged each party to propose the impeachment motion on Wednesday. Such a motion must be voted on within 24 to 72 hours after its proposal.

"The National Assembly should focus on approving the impeachment as quickly as possible to immediately suspend the president's duties," he said.

Earlier, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung criticized the martial law declaration as unconstitutional and illegal. Speaking to reporters shortly after a National Assembly resolution demanding the lifting of martial law was voted, he said, "President Yoon’s proclamation of martial law utterly failed to meet the substantive requirements stipulated by the Constitution and the Martial Law Act."

"President Yoon has betrayed the people. His illegal declaration of martial law is null and void. From this moment, Yoon Suk Yeol is no longer the president of the Republic of Korea."

Source: The Korea Herald 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S. Korea marks 2nd anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his condolences as South Korea on Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush that claimed 159 lives in October 2022.

"Today marks the second anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy," Yoon said at a Cabinet meeting he presided over at his office. "I feel sorry for those who tragically lost their lives and I express my condolences for the bereaved families who live in sorrow."

Yoon said that making people feel safe in everyday life is the most earnest way of expressing condolences to people who died in the crowd crush in the back alleys of the nightlife district of Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul amid Halloween festivities.

Yoon ordered the Cabinet to monitor and complement safety measures in public places such as crowd management. The Ministry of Interior and Safety previously announced plans to dispatch public safety personnel to prevent crowd congestion and to put a medical emergency response system in place from Oct. 25 to Nov. 1 in 12 locations across the country, including Seoul's Itaewon, Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Myeong-dong in Jung-gu and Seongsu-dong of Seongdong-gu.

The presidential office did not disclose either Yoon's or his aides' attendance at an event outside of his office, as of press time. Last year Yoon observed the first anniversary of the Itaewon disaster during a memorial service at a church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly held a memorial service with bereaved family members on Tuesday. Some 60 lawmakers from both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, as well as National Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik, paid their respects while donning purple scarfs.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon noted in a Facebook post on Tuesday that he had the City Hall lit up in purple in memory of the 159 victims of the crowd crush. He also thanked the city's residents for cooperating with authorities' crowd control measures, adding that no major incident occurred despite estimates that over 100,000 people had gathered in Seoul nightlife areas in Hongdae, Itaewon, Gangnam and Seongsu.

Source: The Korea Herald 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: BTS’ J-Hope to be discharged from military; agency urges fans to stop visiting site

 

BTS’s J-Hope is set to be discharged from the military on October 17, and his group’s label. BigHit Music, urged fans to refrain from visiting the site where he will be released from service.

BigHit made the announcement in a statement on the fan community platform Weverse on Monday, October 14, saying J-Hope is “close to completing his active service” while reiterating that no special events are planned.

“We are excited to bring you the news of J-Hope’s upcoming military discharge. He is close to completing his active service in the army and will soon be discharged. Discharge day is a day shared by many service members. No special events are planned on the day of his discharge,” it said.

The agency reminded fans to send their “warm regards and encouragement” to the BTS member through different means, and not by visiting the military site.

“To prevent any issues arising from overcrowding, fans are strongly advised to refrain from visiting the site. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts,” it said.

In its statement, BigHit also thanked fans for expressing their support toward the “Pandora’s Box” singer throughout his enlistment.

“We are always grateful for your unwavering love and support for J-Hope. Our company will continue to put our utmost effort into supporting our artists. Thank you once again for your continued love and support for BTS,” he said.

Born Jung Ho-seok, J-Hope is the second BTS member to be discharged from the military after Jin. He began his mandatory service in April 2023.

Despite his enlistment, J-Hope filmed content in advance, including his special album “Hope on the Street Vol. 1” and the dance show “Hope on the Street” in March 2024, both of which are based on the BTS member’s passion for street dance.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea to open border for foreign tourists in December, tour operators say

 

North Korea will resume international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon in December, and possibly the rest of the country, tour companies said on Wednesday.

The move is a sign that the reclusive country is readying to reopen borders to bigger groups of foreign tourists after years of strict COVID border controls.

"We have received confirmation from our local partner that tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of the country will officially resume in December 2024," the Beijing-based Koryo Tours said on its website.

International flights in and out of North Korea resumed last year and a small group of Russian tourists flew to North Korea for a private tour in February. Top foreign officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, have been visiting the country.

But North Korea has not been fully open to international tourists since 2020.

"Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again," the firm said, adding its local partner would confirm itineraries and dates in coming weeks.

North Korea has been building what it called a "socialist utopia" in Samjiyon, a city near the Chinese border, and "a model of highly-civilised mountain city" with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort and commercial, cultural and medical facilities.

Leader Kim Jong Un in July sacked or demoted some senior officials for their "irresponsible" handling of his flagship Samjiyon project.

Another travel agency, KTG Tours, also announced that tourists would be able to go to Samjiyon from this winter.

Source: Reuters

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Exploding batteries spark deadly S Korea factory fire

 

A massive factory fire that began after several lithium batteries exploded has killed at least 22 people in South Korea.

The blaze broke out on Monday morning at the Aricell plant in Hwaseong city, about 45km (28 miles) south of the capital Seoul.

Local television footage showed large smoke clouds and small explosions going off as firefighters sought to put out the fire. A part of the roof had collapsed.

South Korea is a leading producer of lithium batteries, which are used in many items from electric vehicles to laptops.

Fire official Kim Jin-young said 18 Chinese, one Laotian and two South Korean workers had been confirmed as among the dead. A final body had yet to be identified, and there are fears at least one more person may be missing.

"Most of the bodies are badly burned so it will take some time to identify each one," Mr Kim said, according to news agency AFP.

A further eight people were injured - two seriously - out of the 100 who had been working when the fire broke out.

The Aricell factory housed an estimated 35,000 battery cells on its second floor, where the batteries were inspected and packaged, with more stored elsewhere.

Mr Kim said the fire began when a series of battery cells exploded, though it remains unclear what triggered the initial explosions.

He explained it was difficult to enter the site initially "due to fears of additional explosions".

It is not yet clear what started the blaze. Lithium batteries are at risk of exploding if they are damaged or overheated.

Whatever the cause, once the fire took hold, it would have spread at speed - giving the workers little time to escape, according to Kim Jae-ho, fire and disaster prevention professor at Daejeon University.

"Battery materials such as nickel are easily flammable," he told Reuters news agency. "So often, there is not enough time to respond, compared to a fire caused by other materials."

As a lithium fire can react intensely with water, firefighters had to use dry sand to extinguish the blaze, which took several hours to get under control.

However, there is still a risk that after the fire is extinguished, it could reignite without warning due to the chemical reaction.

Source: BBC

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Kim backs Ukraine invasion as Putin visits North Korea

 

Kim Jong Un has said he "fully supports" Russia's invasion of Ukraine as Putin visits North Korea after 24 years.

The two leaders hailed ties between their countries after they held talks following Putin's overnight arrival

Putin received a red carpet welcome, including roses, waving crowds and ceremonial gunfire at a grand military parade.

The Russian president thanked Kim for inviting him to Pyongyang, and said he hopes the next meeting will take place in Moscow.

The two last met in Russia in September and vowed to strengthen military ties.

The US and South Korea accuse the North of supplying Russia with artillery in exchange for food and military aid.

Both countries deny this but Putin is in search of allies since the invasion of Ukraine turned him into a pariah in the West.

After North Korea, Putin will visit long-time ally Vietnam, where he is expected to discuss trade.

Source: BBC

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Jin from South Korean K-pop group BTS wraps up military service

 

Jin, a member of the K-pop group BTS has been discharged from South Korea's army. 

Hundreds of thousands of people tuned into a livestream of Jin's military discharge.

BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or "Beyond the Scene," is a Grammy-nominated South Korean pop phenomenon.

Jin, whose full name is Kim Seouk-jin, had carried out 18 months of duty and is the first member of BTS to wrap up the mandatory national service that put the group's music career on hold.

The 31-year-old is the oldest member of the K-pop group and appeared emotional as he hugged his colleagues at a military base in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi province.

He was wearing his army uniform and a black beret.

"I cried during the ceremony," he later said.

"But it was so fun for the last year and six months. It's such a relief, I met so many amazing people."

According to South Korean media, several members of BTS applied for leave to celebrate the occasion, including rapper RM, who played the group's hit single Dynamite on a saxophone.

Jin was the first member of the group to enlist in the military in December 2022.

Four other members of the ensemble began their military service a year later in December 2023.

The boy band is expected to be reunited after they all complete their duty in 2025.

Jin has plans to kick off his post-army activities with an hour-long performance in Seoul.

K-pop is one of South Korea's largest cultural exports and BTS have been at the forefront of this after debuting as a group in 2013.

The country requires all able-bodied men aged 18-28 to serve in the military or social service for a minimum of 18 months.

In 2020, it changed the law to accommodate globally recognised K-pop stars, allowing them to delay signing up till the age of 30.

 Source: ABC Australia/Reuters

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: DFA condemns North Korea’s latest satellite launch

 

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) latest satellite launch, saying “it provokes tensions and undermines economic progress, peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region.”

In a statement, the DFA said that the Philippines is calling on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The DFA also pushed for the commitment to constructive and peaceful dialogue with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

“The Philippines has consistently supported the call for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, South Korea denounced the failed satellite launch, calling it a “violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology.”

According to international reports, South Korea’s top envoy to the UN slammed the satellite launch, calling it “one of the most expensive fireworks” and that “DPRK’s scarce resources into the launch could have been better spent on feeding its people.”

Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook made the remarks during an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday to discuss the satellite launch, reports stated.

Earlier, Reuters reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a firing drill of 600mm “super-large” multiple rocket launchers, hitting the target of an island located about 365 kms (227 miles) away as leader Kim oversaw the demonstration, North Korean state-media KCNA reported.

According to the report, Kim called the launch “a possible display for would-be buyers, including Russia.”

Source: DZRH 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea's Kim oversees artillery drills

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a series of firing drills by artillery units in the west of the country, state-run KCNA news agency said Tuesday.

The announcement came amid tensions with Seoul and Washington, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits South Korea and after the allies wrapped up one of their major annual joint military training exercises.

The exercises have prompted angry retorts and live-fire drills from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, which routinely condemns all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion.

This time, Blinken's visit appeared to be adding fuel to the fire. The artillery drills were announced a day after Seoul said the North fired three short-range ballistic missiles, described by analysts as a calculated move to grab attention during Blinken's stop in the South.

The drills involved "super-large multiple rocket launchers," according to a report from the state-run KCNA news agency.

When the order was given, it said, the soldiers "simultaneously fired the gun of annihilation".

"Massive shells of super-large multiple rocket launchers, which were fired from the sharp gun barrels like lava, flew to the target with the flame of annihilating the enemy," it said.

The drills also featured a simulation of an "air explosion of a shell of" a super-large multiple rocket launcher, the report continued.

Blinken is attending the third Summit for Democracy and met with President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul early Monday. He is also meeting his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the event, for discussions now likely to be dominated by the allies' efforts to counter threats from the North.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South to help protect it against the North.

Pyongyang this month warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over their military exercises, and later announced that Kim had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

Monday's ballistic missile test was the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.

Source: Agence France-Presse