South Korea crisis live: Cabinet lifts martial law imposed by President Yoon

Chants of “Arrest Yoon” and “Impeach Yoon” echoed through the night air in front of thick lines of policemen guarding the perimeter outside South Korea’s parliament.

Protestors also waved banners with messages calling for Yoon’s resignation, while others carried South Korean flags, reports AFP.

Cho Kuk, head of a minor opposition party, met protesters outside parliament and said: “This isn’t over. He put all the people in shock.” He also vowed to impeach Yoon by putting together votes from other parties, according to Reuters.

South Korea’s cabinet has lifted the martial law announced by President Yoon, Yonhap news agency reports.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says that the martial law would be lifted and troops withdrawn after the Cabinet meeting

“Just a moment ago, there was a demand from the National Assembly to lift the state of emergency, and we have withdrawn the military that was deployed for martial law operations. We will accept the National Assembly’s request and lift the martial law through the Cabinet meeting,” Yoon said in a televised address, according to Reuters.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says he will lift martial law after parliament voted to block it, reports Reuters. He adds that a cabinet meeting will be held soon as possible.

South Korea martial law LIVE: The largest umbrella union in South Korea declared its opposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, calling for a general strike to force him to reverse course, reports Bloomberg.

“We are here to curb the illegal declaration of martial law and also impeach President,” said Kim Jin Euk, head of Seoul office at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Korea’s largest umbrella labor union with about 1.2 million members. “I can’t believe he is doing this crazy thing.”

South Korea martial law LIVE: The United States has said that it was given no warning by South Korea that President Yoon Suk Yeol would declare martial law in a country that is one of Washington’s closest allies, according to Reuters.

“The US was not notified in advance of this announcement. We are seriously concerned by the developments we are seeing on the ground,” a White House National Security Council statement said.

Immediately after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, the military chief called in key commanders for talks, according to AP.

South Korean troops set up barricades and then made their way into parliament. The leader of the main opposition, which controls parliament, ordered lawmakers to return to the building, where they eventually voted to lift the declaration of martial law.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell says the United States is watching events in South Korea with “grave concern” and hopes that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.

He stressed that the US alliance with South Korea was “ironclad” and added that the country stood by Korea in their time of uncertainty.

Some 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea to guard against the North.

South Korea martial law LIVE: British nationals in South Korea have been advised to avoid political demonstrations after the country’s president declared martial law.

The UK Foreign Office issued new travel advice warning British nationals to “follow the advice of local authorities” and “avoid political demonstrations”.

South Korea martial law LIVE: South Korean stocks tumbled after the country’s president declared martial law amid a deepening rift between the ruling party and its main opposition, according to Bloomberg.

The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF sank as much as 7.1% in US trading as of 11 a.m. New York time, its worst intraday drop since August 5, while London-listed shares of Samsung Electronics lost as much as 7.5%.

Police and military personnel were seen leaving the Assembly’s grounds after National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called for their withdrawal.

Lee Jae-Myung, leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers will remain in the Assembly’s main hall until the president formally lifts his order, reports AP.

South Korea martial law LIVE: South Korean military officials said martial law will remain in effect until it is lifted by President Yoon Suk Yeol, despite the parliament’s overwhelming vote to block it, reports AFP.

The martial law will “remain in place until lifted by the president”, Seoul’s military officials said, according to the news agency, which cited local broadcaster YTN and other local media reports.

South Korea martial law live: Hours after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a bid to eliminate “anti-state” forces, the parliament voted to lift the declaration.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared that the martial law was “invalid” and that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people”, according to the Associated Press.

In an emergency national address televised live, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said he made the decision to protect freedom and constitutional order, and that it will not have an impact on South Korea’s foreign policy.

He added that it would also help eradicate the influence of North Korean supporters.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stunned voters, lawmakers and investors by declaring martial law on Tuesday.