South Korea's parliament members scuffled with martial law troops late on Tuesday, after president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law to thwart "anti-state forces" among his opponents only to reverse the move hours later.
.
Footage filmed by South Korea's broadcaster JTBC showed parliament officials scuffling with soldiers trying to enter the building and a fire extinguisher being sprayed.
.
Yoon told the nation in a TV address on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from nuclear-armed North Korea and pro-North anti-state forces, and protect its free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.
.
However, Yoon said on Wednesday he would move to lift a martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, backing down in a standoff with parliament which rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.
.
The crisis in a country that has been a democracy since the 1980s, and is a U.S. ally and major Asian economy, caused international alarm.
.
Story by: Reuters
