Yoon Suk Yeol, the leader of South Korea, has criticized his unsuccessful attempt to impose military law, calling it a military revolution, and accusing him of operating a fascist dictator.
Yoon made the shock declaration last week, accusing North Korea sympathisers of trying to undermine his government. His political future is still uncertain, with members of his own party so far refusing to impeach him.
Yoon’s determination was described as “insane” and compared to previous military dictatorships in an article on site six of its state paper Rodong Sinmun on Wednesday.
” He boldly brandished artillery at his own people”, the post stated.
The developments have “revealed the failure in South Asian community, that Yoon’s immediate martial law declaration is an expression of desperation, and that Yoon’s social life may stop quick”, it read.
Photos of the protests in Seoul, including those of youthful South Koreans carrying banner and K-pop lighting pieces, were included in the article on Rodong Sinmum.
Yoon’s short-lived martial law plunged the country into political turmoil. He remains in office but has been banned from leaving the country while being investigated for treason. Though it is unclear what, if any, authority he still has.
There were concerns North Korea might choose to utilize this issue, and inspire Seoul, while there are concerns over the President’s control of his troops.
An attempt to impeach the President over the weekend had failed, after Yoon’s ruling People Power Party chose to boycott the anonymous vote.
But the opposition Democratic Party, which holds the majority in parliament, has vowed to keep trying to oust Yoon, with another voting expected on Saturday.
At least eight Yoon’s party members must cross over and vote to remove the president with a two-thirds bulk of the 300-seat legislature.
Jake Kwon provided extra monitoring in Seoul.