Kim Jong Un‘s state media has declared South Korea a ‘fascist dictatorship’ following the president’s short-lived attempt to impose martial law on the nation.
The one-party state’s damning criticism of its southern neighbour comes as the defence minister who claimed responsibility for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle tried to take his own life.
As the political crisis in South Korea deepens, Kim Jong Un’s state media finally broke its silence by, somewhat ironically, slamming Yoon for bringing about a ‘dictatorship of the people’.
North Korea‘s state-run KCNA news agency, in words reported by The Guardian, said: ‘The puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who had already faced a serious crisis of governance and impeachment, declared martial law unexpectedly and unleashed the guns of the fascist dictatorship on the people.’
The hermit kingdom has now been run by three generations of the Kim Dynasty since the country was formed as a satellite state of the Soviet Union in 1948.
It is been widely regarded as one of the world’s most brutal totalitarian states.
In a somewhat rare occurrence Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Korean Workers’ party, carried a detailed report on last week’s tumultuous events in Seoul including pictures of the protests.
‘The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society … and that Yoon Suk Yeol’s political life could face an early end,’ it reported.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un has slammed the president of his southern neighbour for bringing about a ‘dictatorship of the people’
President Yoon Suk Yeol survived his first impeachment vote on Saturday after his right-wing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote
Soldiers attempting to enter South Korea’s parliament in Seoul are blocked by MPs. Martial Law was rescinded after parliament – including members of Yoon’s party – defied police and army cordons to vote unanimously against the order
KCNA goes on to describe South Korea as a ‘gangster nation’ a description often leveraged against Kim Jong Un’s regime – whose family has cultivated a cult of personality that continues to pauperise most of society while the ruling elite live a life of lavish luxury in Pyongyang.
However, despite the apparent hypocrisy within North Korea’s criticism of the south, experts have it serves the regime well to exploit any crisis in the democratic and western-aligned South Korea.
Speaking to The Guardian, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said: ‘Leaders in Russia, China, and especially North Korea are likely watching the political turmoil in South Korea with glee, sensing a geopolitical advantage.
‘Authoritarian regimes believe that if they manage to stay in power, they can outlast democratic rivals that eventually commit self-harm, descend into dysfunction, and fall out with allies.’
The commentary from North Korea comes as the former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, attempted to take his own life while in prison.
He was detained on Sunday for his role in last week’s events before he was formally arrested on insurrection charges.
According to the authorities, he was found while attempting to kill himself and is now in a stable condition.
The upheaval in South Korea started when Yoon shocked South Korea and the world when he declared martial law late on Tuesday last week.
A protestor wears a cut-out of the president’s face. In a somewhat rare occurrence Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling party, carried a detailed report on last week’s tumultuous events in Seoul including pictures of the protests
This gave the military sweeping emergency powers to root out what Yoon called ‘pro-North anti-state forces’ and overcome obstructionist political opponents.
The decree, which is the first time martial law has been declared since the country transitioned to democracy in 1987, gave the military sweeping emergency powers to root out what he called ‘anti-state forces’ and overcome obstructionist political opponents.
However, the order was rescinded six hours later after parliament – including members of Yoon’s party – defied police and army cordons to vote unanimously against the order.
Yoon’s sudden declaration plunged South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and a key U.S. military ally, into its greatest political crisis in decades.
Since then,opposition against the already unpopular president has been galvanised as members of the public took to the streets waving banners and calling for Yoon’s departure.
Opposition parties tabled a no-confidence vote on Saturday which the president survived after his right-wing People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote.
The Democratic Party, South Korea’s main opposition party, said it will try again to oust Yoon on December 14.
Speaking to reporters its leader, Lee Jae-myung, said: ‘Yoon, the principal culprit behind the insurrection and military coup that destroyed South Korea’s constitutional order, must either resign immediately or be impeached without delay.’
Last Saturday, Yoon addressed the nation in a televised speech to apologise for the move, and to say he would face whatever repercussions there would be, though he did not offer to resign.
Whilst his own party boycotted the first no-confidence vote, their leader Han Dong-hun has made clear the PPP believes the president should resign.
