by Eva Fu and Catherine Yang at The Epoch Times via ZeroHedge
A martial law order from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has again put communist influence in the country under the spotlight.
For the first time in nearly four decades, the South Korean leader invoked the authority, accusing the opposing Democratic Party of aligning with communist North Korea. He revoked martial law hours later after parliament voted to lift the order.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces that are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the free constitutional order,” Yoon said in a late-night address on Dec. 3.
He said the political opposition, which dominates the national assembly, was “paralyzing the judiciary by intimidating judges and impeaching a large number of prosecutors” and causing dysfunction in other government sectors as well.
North Korea is far from the only country bringing communist influence over the peninsula.
China, South Korea’s biggest trading partner, has considerable sway.