On Monday, special prosecutor Cho Eun-seok alleged that former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol orchestrated a plan to provoke the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into a military strike. The aim was to secure public support for a martial law declaration in December 2024 and eliminate key political opponents.
After a six-month probe launched in mid-2025, Cho's team indicted 24 individuals, including Yoon and five former cabinet members, on insurrection charges. Prosecutors say the group manipulated security briefings and communications to bait the DPRK.
If these allegations are upheld in court, they would represent a historic challenge to South Korea's democratic norms. December 2024's martial law saw civilian oversight suspended, sparking protests and legal battles that reverberated through the following months.
The case also raises broader questions about how national security rhetoric can be weaponized in domestic politics. Analysts warn that using the specter of conflict to bolster political agendas risks destabilizing both governance and regional stability.
Trials are expected to stretch into 2026, as South Korea's judiciary takes on one of its most high-profile cases in recent memory. For global citizens and policy watchers, this saga underscores the fragile dance between power, accountability, and the ethics of leadership.
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Ex-South Korean President Yoon tried to provoke DPRK, prosecutor says
cgtn.com
