Exceptionalism Cradled between Oceans: Reach of Belligerence Approaches Eightieth Year

US elements and entities, puppet and puppeteers, plunge their fangs into the peoples of Korea spreading venomous disease throughout Southeast Asia (and beyond)

A President Betrays his Countrymen (his countrywomen, compatriots, fellow citizens)

Lawyer-Prosecutor Yoon Suk Yeol (Republic of Korea aka South Korea), political independent-2021 People Power Party (aka PPP, ‘Power of Nationals’ formerly United Future Party or UFP) convert

Career from 1994 employed in the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Daegu

• 2006 credited with apprehending Chung Mong-koo for complicity in slush fund case at Hyundai Motor Company
• 2013 leading special investigation team looking into the National Intelligence Service (NIS)’s involvement in the 2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal (demoted from Seoul to Daegu’s prosecutor’s office, and later headed investigations into 2016 allegations pertaining to principals at Samsung)
• 2017 (May 19) becomes (appointed) chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office and led investigation into accounting fraud at Samsung
• 2020 (April) under attack by lawmakers surrounding his office’s investigations into election law violation related to both “ruling and opposition politicians” and “suspected election rigging” of a mayoral race” involving (2018) “senior secretaries” in top government office; 2020 (November 24) suspended from office by Minister of Justice “citing alleged ethical violations, abuse of power, and interference into investigations of his associates and family members (suspension later overturned)
• 2021: (March 4) resigned position as prosecutor-general, (July 30) joins People Power Party (instead of being “independent”), is nominated by the PPP on November 5 as candidate to stand in the coming presidential election and on (November 12) indicates his openness to deployment of “more US THAAD missile deployments in South Korea”

Yoon Suk Yeol Presidency

2022 (March 9) wins election to ROK’s presidency, and in his inaugural speech, he continues a US inspired practice attack (making “strong statements,” taking “hard-line” positions) against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). [It should be noted that the US-led war on the Korean Peninsula was never concluded in a peace treaty so that technically the East and West in this region of the world is still at war. This means that President Yoon has taken a stand against his countrymen, his culture, his neighbors.]

2022-2024

• Yoon vetoes “a special prosecutorial bill on investigating allegations of corruption related to himself and his wife Kim Keon-hee”

• Reported in an April 19, 2023, Reuters interview “hinting” at his openness to “supplying lethal aid to Ukraine” (in contrast with ROK precedent of providing only “humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine”)

• 2023 (April 25) arrives with entourage in Washington, DC and speaks before US Congress declaring to the assembled that … “… no matter where you sit, you stand with Korea… (in an ROK-USA relationship) that is “stronger than ever.” 

• Three months later (following orders?), he attends the NATO summit followed by visits to Ukraine and announces that his country “would provide $394 million in financial aid to Ukraine for 2024, an eightfold increase from 2023”; four months later, his government suspends ROK’s participation “in the Comprehensive Agreement Pact… aimed at lowering tensions” between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

• 2024 (December 3) former ROK prosecutor turned President Yoon Suk Yeol takes up a mantra, accusing his country and countrymen of being “communist” then declaring “martial law” against his country and countrymen.

The Korean Times Captures the Yoon vs. the People Moment

December 3, 2024

Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol in a televised speech declares “emergency martial law … aimed at ‘eradicating pro-North Korean forces’ and ‘protecting constitutional order of freedom.’”

“BREAKING South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declares emergency martial law, accusing opposition of ‘anti-state activities’” https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387615.html

Following Orders

More than 200 armed troops entered the buildings of the National Assembly.

ROK Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su (“martial law commander” designate) — “soon after” President Yoon Suk Yeol’s late-night announcement — “issued measures” under the martial law decree, which included

Bans on “all political activities” 

Restrictions on freedom of the press

December 4, 2024

“According to Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, martial law can only be declared under circumstances of war, armed conflict or a national emergency equivalent thereto, necessitating military action or the preservation of public safety and order.

“However, President Yoon Suk Yeol failed to provide a proper justification for invoking martial law and violated procedural legitimacy.”

Korean Bar Association and Law Professor Respond 

“President Yoon’s declaration of martial law was the violation of the Constitution, jeopardizing the country’s democracy and constitutional order.” (KBA press release)

“Martial law cannot be declared at current state.” “Those who disable the National Assembly from functioning could be considered accomplices to treason.” (Seoul National University Law School Professor Han In-seop)


Members of the Faculty of Seoul National University Respond

“The National Assembly and government should respect the will of the people while following the country’s constitutional procedure to settle the current political crisis.” 

“We strongly reject any measures to jeopardize the management of our academic affairs.” The Korean Times December 4, 2024, Politics “Foreign, domestic academics criticize Yoon’s declaration of martial law” by Jhoo Dong-chan “Academics both in Korea and overseas are criticizing President Yoon Suk Yeol who triggered the country’s largest political crisis in decades Tuesday night when he declared martial law.” https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387708.html?utm_source=taboola

Vox populi (Voice of the People) 

“A coalition of nine organizations, united under the banner of the ‘Committee for the Expulsion of Yoon Suk Yeol,’ issued a statement following the repeal resolution, declaring, ‘He is no longer the president of South Korea. We urge the military and police not to obey the unjust orders of dictator Yoon Suk Yeol.’” Korea Times “Citizens outraged by martial law, support repeal motion, demand Yoon’s impeachment” https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387638.html?utm_source=taboola

“Can you believe the reality in which the president mobilizes troops … to point guns at the very people they serve?”

“The president is a servant of the people.” (Rep. Lee Jae-myung)

“It has been confirmed that Yoon is in such an abnormal state of mind that he should not be allowed to perform the duties of his office for even a single minute or second. His judgment and awareness of the situation are far from normal” (DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae)

“The declaration of martial law violates both the procedural and substantive aspects of the Constitution and the law, providing full grounds for impeachment.

“Yoon is the leader of a rebellion, as defined by our Constitution.” And “As the leader of a rebellion, Yoon must immediately step down from the presidency.”

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) “will punish the unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law of the Yoon administration”

“We urge law enforcement agencies to immediately launch an investigation into the treason case that the entire nation is now aware of and bring the perpetrators to justice.” (DPK chief spokesperson Jo Seoung-lae) Korean Times Law & Crime “Defense minister faces treason charges for proposing declaration of martial law” December 4, 2024 by Jung Min-ho “Kim Yong-hyun could be put in jail for life after pushing for ‘unconstitutional’ military rule President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law immediately incited political chaos.” https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/251_387712.html

“‘All power in the Republic of Korea comes from the people!’”

ROK “citizens” “united in anger” over the declaration of martial law “… gathered at the heart of the city” carrying their own declaration “‘President Yoon must step down.’”

“Participants marched around the Assembly complex, from the main building to the lawmakers’ offices and the main gate, chanting … ‘Impeach Yoon Suk Yeol’ and ‘Arrest Yoon Suk Yeol.’”

The student council of the National University of Seoul declared that the martial law decree “‘trampled on the democratic ideals of the April 19 Revolution,’ referring to the mass protests on the presidential residence in Korea that led to the 1960 resignation (and escape) of President Syngman Rhee in 1960.” Korea Times “‘Yoon must step down’: Candlelight protests return to Gwanghwamun, Yeouido” KT Staff, December 4, 2024, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387739.html

NOTE: Syngman Rhee was USA Ivey League (George Washington, Harvard, Princeton universities’ baccalaureate through doctorate) and an American Methodist Christian convert who assumed the Korean presidency in 1948 and, under domestic protests in 1960, absconded under darkness on a United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) plane piloted a US Air Force officer; and ended up in exile in the heavily US military-occupied, newly inked (August 21, 1959) 50th US State of Hawaii (city of Honolulu)

Wednesday morning Resignations 

“All senior presidential aides, including Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, Policy Chief Sung Tae-yoon, National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik, and senior secretaries” reportedly “submitted their resignations to Yoon,” though the resignations were unlikely to be accepted.

However, “the fallout from the martial law declaration has completely undermined Yoon’s political momentum, making it unlikely that (in the short term) the presidential office will make any further personnel changes.” “President faces impeachment after bungled martial law declaration December 4-5, 2024, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2024/12/356_387713.html

Multinational News Reporting 

Press TV News reporting Wednesday December 4, 2024

Thousands of South Korean protestors call for president to resign over martial law order

“Thousands of protesters have staged a rally in the South Korean capital, Seoul, to demand the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his decision to declare nationwide martial law in the country. … More than 280 troops, backed by 24 helicopters, arrived at parliament to lock down the site after the announcement. However, the MPs defied the soldiers to force their way into parliament and unanimously voted against the order.”

The ROK President in a later statement “said he would reverse his decision and confirmed that the troops sent to carry out the order would be withdrawn.” https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/12/04/738457/South-Korea-protest-demand-resignation-President-Yoon-Suk-Yeo-martial-law-decision-MPs-impeachment-motion

RT News Reporting December 4, 2024

South Korean Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, in a message shared with the media, “said he felt ‘responsible for all the turmoil caused by the emergency martial law.’” He “apologized” and offered his resignation.

Several hours after the Defense Minister’s statement and after the parliament voted unanimously against the decision, the president announced the lifting of the “state of emergency.” RT “South Korean defense minister resigns: Kim Yong-hyun has apologized for causing ‘confusion and concern’ by advising President Yoon Suk Yeol to declare martial law” https://www.rt.com/news/608701-south-korea-minister-resigns/

Exceptionalism USA Cradled Obliviously Between Two Oceans

Sadly, within the United States of America (my country, among my fellow Americans), there will be no hard news reporting of the happenings and historical context of happenings on the Peninsula because the American press, the podsters and silo dwellers, sundry loose talkers are variously

Censored

Self-censuring

Deliberately sanctimoniously arrogantly ignorant

###

PROLIFIC SOUTHERN-BORN AMERICAN WRITER DR. CAROLYN LADELLE BENNETT focuses on People, Press, Politics USA; Domestic and Foreign Affairs (no copyright claimed in direct quotes and individual image)

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Appearance of ROK DPRK Peace amidst Hostilities calls for End-of-War Declaration

“Ceasefire can never mean the termination of war and it cannot guarantee peace. 

“This is a serious lesson taught by history.  

“The ceasefire that has lasted unprecedentedly long in history is like a time bomb set, threatening peace and security in the Korean peninsula, region and the rest of the world.” [Korean Central News Agency]

Koreas 1950 – 2018

1950

August 12, 1950 the Air Force of the United States “dropped 625 tons of bombs on North Korea” and in two weeks “the daily tonnage had increased to some 800 tons.”

The Korean split was a US/USSR Cold War scheme. In an escalating conflict between the two Koreas, instead of assisting by mediating the conflict, the Soviet Union and China backed the North and the United States backed the South, providing some 90% of the military personnel. Technically, the UN forces of 21 nations backed the ROK.

Armistice and North South fight for unification 1951 – 1958 –

The president of the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea), Syngman Rhee opposed peace talks and supported an “independent and unified country,” a position opposed by the United Nations Command but later accepted by the National Assembly of South Korea.

1953

The Korean Armistice Agreement though designed to end hostilities was not an end to war. The document signed on July 27, 1953, by U.S. Army Lieutenant General William Harrison, Jr. representing the United Nations Command (UNC), North Korean General Nam Il representing the Korean People’s Army (KPA), and the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) was reportedly designed to

“…ensure a complete cessation of hostilities and of all acts of armed force in Korea”—“until a final peaceful settlement is achieved.”

1958 US Unilateral Breach

Though the Armistice Agreement had mandated that “neither side introduce new weapons into Korea, other than piece-for-piece replacement of equipment,” the United States, unilaterally, and despite concerns of UN allies, violated the Armistice Agreement by, provocatively, deploying atomic bombs.

In January 1958, the United States deployed “nuclear armed Honest John missiles and 280mm atomic cannons to South Korea”; and later that same year deployed “atomic demolition munitions and nuclear armed Matador cruise missiles with the range to reach China and the Soviet Union.”

1998 - 2008 Attempt at Rapprochement Obstructed

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung proposed the “Sunshine Policy” aimed at softening “North Korea’s attitude toward South Korea.” Under the policy, “North-South cooperative business developments began” and South Korean citizens traveled between the two countries until 2008.

The first conference in the post-Korean War period came in 2000. South Korea’s Kim Dae-jung and North Korea’s Kim Jong-il met at a summit meeting and in mid June of that year completed a five-point agreement:

to settle the problem of independent reunification,

to promote peaceful reunification,

to solve humanitarian problems such as the issue of separated families,

to encourage cooperation and exchange in their economy, and

to have a dialogue between the North and South.

However, the new administration in Washington discouraged rapprochement and insulted the Koreans smearing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as part of an “axis of evil.” North Korea responded by renouncing the nonproliferation treaty, kicking out UN inspectors, and restarting its nuclear program. Causing further cooling in North-South relations was a short naval skirmish in 2002 over disputed fishing territory that left six South Korean naval soldiers dead.  

Nevertheless progress  

2000 North-South Joint Declaration signed by the Republic of Korea President Kim Dae-jung and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Chairman, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il declared

The South and the North have agreed to resolve the question of reunification independently and through the joint efforts of the Korean people, who are the masters of the country.

For the achievement of reunification, we have agreed that there is a common element in the South’s concept of a confederation and the North’s formula for a loose form of federation. The South and the North agreed to promote reunification in that direction.

The South and the North have agreed to promptly resolve humanitarian issues such as exchange visits by separated family members and relatives on the occasion of the August 15 National Liberation Day and the question of unswerving Communists serving prison sentences in the South.

The South and the North have agreed to consolidate mutual trust by promoting balanced development of the national economy through economic cooperation and by stimulating cooperation and exchanges in civic, cultural, sports, health, environmental and all other fields.

The South and the North have agreed to hold a dialogue between relevant authorities in the near future to implement the above agreements expeditiously.”

2005 Truth and Reconciliation

Established December 1, 2005, the South Korean Commission for Truth and Reconciliation, a governmental body, “investigated numerous atrocities committed by various government agencies during Japan’s occupation of Korea, the Korean War, and the authoritarian governments that ruled afterwards”; and estimated “that tens of thousands of people were executed in the summer of 1950”

Among the victims discovered were “political prisoners, civilians killed by US forces, and civilians who had allegedly collaborated with communist North Korea or local communist groups.

Sanctions Warfare, Blowback

More than 50 years after the U.S. breach of the Korean Armistice, repeated war games provocations, and the imposition of “a new wave” sanctions aggression, the North Korean president declared the 1953 Armistice “invalid”; and on March 13, 2013, affirmed that North Korea had “ended the 1953 Armistice,” declaring the DPRK unrestrained “‘by the North-South declaration on non-aggression.’”

At the end of March that year

North Korea stated that it entered a ‘state of war’ with South Korea and declared that ‘The long-standing situation of the Korean peninsula being neither at peace nor at war is finally over.’”

2016 Proposal to End War

North Korea reportedly approached the United States about conducting formal peace talks to formally end the war.

North Korean and United States “agreed to secret peace talks” but “rejected” the terms of a peace treaty that would include “nuclear disarmament.”

2018 North-South talks

North Korea and South Korea on reportedly agreed on April 27 “to talks to end the ongoing 65-year conflict” and committed to completing “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

Because of the continued Republic of Korea (ROK)-United States military drills, the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea (PDRK) on May 15, 2018, cancelled a high-level meeting.”

This week’s News Reporting

“South Koreans are now increasingly calling for adopting a declaration on the end of war in this year that marks the 65th anniversary of the Korean armistice. The People for Achieving Peace and Unification, the headquarters of the movement for conclusion of peace agreement and other civil society organizations of all social strata held demonstrations, rallies and press conferences to urge the US to work for the adoption of the declaration, saying the US demands the unilateral denuclearization of north Korea and it should also fulfill its responsibility to establish a permanent peace mechanism.…” 

Republic of Korea “Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also has spoken to “the need to hold a north-south meeting—or a tripartite meeting involving the United States—in order to declare the end of war this year.”

Sources

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)

“Declaration of Termination of War Is First Process for Peace: KCNA Commentary” July 25, 2018 | Source: DPRK Today (English) | https://kcnawatch.co/newstream/1532509238-983185363/declaration-of-termination-of-war-is-first-process-for-peace-kcna-commentary/

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_15th_North%E2%80%93South_Joint_Declaration

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Korea)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Policy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_15th_North%E2%80%93South_Joint_Declaration

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Armistice_Agreement

Korean Central News Agency

“South Koreans demand declaration of war termination” by Song Jong Ho PT July 24, 2018 https://kcnawatch.co/newstream/1532426452-357035003/south-koreans-demand-declaration-of-war-termination/

Foreign Minister of South Korea Kang Kyung-wha is the first woman nominated for and appointed to the position. Kyung-wha is also “the first Korean woman to hold a high-level position in the United Nations.” She “joined the South Korean delegation for the third Inter-Korean Summit in Panmunjom becoming the first foreign minister to participate in such summit.”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kang_Kyung-wha

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