President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has declared martial law in an unprecedented live address on Tuesday night in response to “anti-state” activities of the opposition Democratic Party which he accused of siding with North Korea.

Mr Yeol did not take lightly the actions of the opposition Democratic Party— whose members were the majority in parliament— to file a motion seeking the impeachment of chief prosecutors and rejection of the budget proposal.

He described their actions as “clear anti-state behaviour aimed at inciting rebellion” which have “paralysed state affairs and turned the National Assembly into a den of criminals.”

The South Korean leader said martial law was a necessary prerogative to curb the “shameless pro-North anti-state forces.”

“We will eliminate the anti-state forces and restore the country to normalcy as quickly as possible.” the president stated.

But parliament whose majority members belonged to the opposition had already initiated moves to block the president’s declaration. 190 of 300 lawmakers voted against the martial law.

Given that the president and parliament were at loggerheads over the matter that could significantly impact the lives of citizens, hundreds of South Koreans thronged the entrance of the National Assembly.

But the police and other security agencies were trying their best to manage the situation and cordoned off the assembly complex. It was unclear if they would be successful in holding off the large crowd who seemed agitated over the president’s declaration.