South Korea's former defense minister arrested on suspicion of state treason
Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on suspicion of state treason as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding President Yun Seok-yol's declaration of martial law. This was reported by Yonhap News Agency on December 8.
"Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was urgently arrested, and a cell phone he had with him was also seized," the publication said.
It is specified that the urgent arrest was made because of the heavy charges that are presented to Kim Yong-hyun, for which "could face the death penalty." In addition, because of the suspicious activity of the former head of the Ministry of Defense in his accounts on social networks, law enforcers suspected him of attempts to destroy physical evidence.
Earlier, on December 7, Han Dong-hoon, chairman of South Korea's ruling Civic Force party , announced Korean President Yun Seok-yeol' s promise to resign. According to Han Dong-hoon, the president will be effectively suspended from his duties until his resignation.
Yun Seok-yol declared martial law in the country on Dec. 3. He cited the threat of power paralysis caused by attempts to conduct impeachment proceedings as the reason for the move. Commander of the emergency regime, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Park Ahn-soo noted that until martial law is lifted in the republic, the activities of parliament, political parties and associations are prohibited. Military equipment was brought to the streets of Seoul.
The opposition party of the republic, in turn, demanded the resignation of the head of state and said it intended to charge Yoon Seok-yeol with treason. At the same time, all heads and senior secretaries of the presidential administration of South Korea resigned. In addition, the trade unions of the republic announced a general strike.
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