North Korean media has resumed its criticism of South Korea, reporting for the first time on the December 3 declaration and subsequent lifting of emergency martial law, as well as the political crisis that has unfolded in the South, including the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol.
On Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) described the situation in South Korea as chaos, stating, “The Yoon Suk Yeol regime, facing a severe governance crisis and impeachment threat, shockingly declared emergency martial law, unleashing forces of fascist dictatorship against the people, plunging the entire South Korean territory into turmoil.”
This article was also published in the Rodong Sinmun, a state-run North Korean newspaper accessible to the country’s residents. Alongside the written report, the newspaper featured photos of the candlelight protests in front of the National Assembly.
The KCNA report detailed the events of December 3, including the declaration of martial law, its lifting just six hours later, and the introduction of an impeachment motion against Yoon in the South Korean National Assembly on Saturday. The motion was eventually rendered invalid after the ruling People Power Party members walked out of the session.
The article further mentioned that “several helicopters and heavily armed martial law forces, including special forces from the Army’s Special Warfare Command, were mobilized to block the National Assembly,” confirming the military’s involvement in the martial law process.
Following the invalidation of the impeachment motion, widespread candlelight protests erupted in Seoul. Protesters expressed outrage, claiming that “Yoon Suk Yeol’s very existence represents war and disaster,” and demanded his immediate impeachment and punishment for his alleged wrongdoings.
The report also noted that the international community views martial law and impeachment turmoil as exposing vulnerabilities within South Korean society. It suggested that Yoon’s sudden decision to declare martial law reflected a sense of desperation and that his political career might end prematurely. The report further stated that the global community was closely watching the situation.
While the article prominently featured images from the candlelight protests, it notably omitted any photographs of martial law troops entering the National Assembly or of citizens and National Assembly staff confronting the military. This omission appears to be a deliberate effort to avoid showing North Korean residents images of ordinary South Koreans resisting military authority.
North Korea’s criticism of South Korea resumed just seven days after its initial report on December 4, which condemned Yoon and reported on the protests.
North Korean media had been reporting almost daily on protests calling for Yoon’s resignation and political declarations, but after the December 4 report, which coincided with the martial law declaration, they ceased coverage of South Korea for a period. Now, however, they have resumed their critical coverage of the South.