EDITORIAL | Expect North Korea to Try to Exploit Seoul's Impeachment Chaos

The National Assembly of South Korea has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk-yeol and severely criticized him for temporarily declaring martial law. Furthermore, the President's powers have been suspended. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will serve as acting president.

The country's Constitutional Court will decide within 180 days whether or not the impeachment is valid. If it agrees with the National Assembly's decision, Yoon will be dismissed from office. Soon thereafter the country will hold a presidential election.

Parallel with the impeachment proceedings, South Korean police are also investigating Yoon as a suspect in a case of insurrection. There is even a possibility that he will be detained and arrested. In any event, the turmoil in Korean politics is sure to continue for some time.

*North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2024 (©KCNA via Kyodo)*

Amidst all this uproar, we must not forget the severe ongoing regional security environment in Northeast Asia.

The Merciless Dictatorship in North Korea

Concerning Yoon's martial law declaration, the official media in North Korea has labeled it as "a shocking incident that pointed the bayonet of dictatorship at the people." North Korean media also claimed that the incident had exposed the fragility of South Korean society. No doubt such statements were intended to allow the Kim Jong Un regime to proclaim the superiority of its system. But as a merciless dictatorship, North Korea certainly is not qualified to make such a claim.

In South Korea, the former defense minister has been arrested on suspicion of engaging in insurrection. Discipline in the South Korean military has also suffered, according to reports. Greater vigilance is necessary because of the risk that North Korea will take advantage of this situation. Pyongyang could easily use social media and spies planted in South Korea to manipulate public opinion or launch military provocations.

Yoon's Determination

In a December 12 speech, Yoon sought to justify the imposition of martial law. He said, "It was to inform the public of the crisis and to protect and restore constitutional order."

*South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (©Yonhap via Kyodo)*

Yoon added defiantly, "Whether it be impeachment or an investigation, I will stand tall."

He thereby seemingly reversed his earlier position of leaving the decision on what would happen to the rest of his term as president up to the ruling party. Instead, he evidenced his desire to remain as president for as long as possible.

That put Yoon at odds with his own ruling party, which sought to have Yoon step down early to resolve the confusion. Due to Yoon's tough stance, at least 12 ruling party lawmakers switched to voting in favor of impeachment on December 14.

Lee Jae-myung is the leader of the North Korea-friendly Democratic Party of Korea, the largest opposition party. He has criticized Yoon's justification for martial law as a "declaration of war on the people."

Even though he has been convicted of violating election laws, Lee himself is seen as a strong candidate to become South Korea's next president. He has appealed that conviction, and the appeals court is expected to hand down its ruling within six months. If the verdict is upheld, Lee will lose his right to run for public office.

Yoon's insistence on remaining president and Lee's leading the rush to see him impeached reflect the character of South Korea's political struggle. It is all going on with an eye toward the next presidential election.

Japan must prepare itself for the political instability to continue in South Korea for the time being. Accordingly, Tokyo needs to pursue diplomatic and defense policies with caution.