North Korea Reports on 'Yoon Impeachment'... "Provoking Anger with Forced Statement"

"Defense Minister and Co-conspirators Suspended from Duty One After Another"
Reported on the Same Day During Park Geun-hye, but Two Days Later for Yoon's Impeachment

North Korean media reported the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol two days after the event. Although no particular commentary was included, they criticized Yoon's statement, saying it "provoked anger with a forced statement."

Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated on the 16th, "In the puppet South Korea, the impeachment motion against the Yoon Seok-yeol puppet was passed on the 14th," adding, "The presidential powers of the Yoon Seok-yeol puppet have been suspended." The agency explained the impeachment process, noting that a vote had been held on the 7th but was aborted due to the collective walkout of People Power Party members.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 12th. Photo by the Presidential Office

It continued, "The hastily convened Yoon Seok-yeol puppet staged a fraudulent performance with a statement woven from lies and coercion, but by shifting the responsibility for the martial law madness onto the opposition party and threats from anyone, and by insulting the broad masses' impeachment struggle as a frenzied sword dance, it has caused even stronger backlash and anger in political and social circles."

The statement referred to by North Korea was released on the 12th. At that time, President Yoon targeted the opposition party, claiming, "They have paralyzed state affairs through rampant impeachment," and asserted, "They intend to turn the Republic of Korea into a spy haven, a drug den, and a gangster state." He also rebutted criticism by asking, "Is there really a two-hour-long rebellion?"

The agency reported that following the arrest of the Minister of National Defense, the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, and the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the duties of the Army Chief of Staff, the Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, the Commander of the Special Warfare Command, and the Commander of the Intelligence Command?who had been appointed as martial law commanders?were successively suspended, stating, "Investigations into the ringleader of the rebellion, the Yoon Seok-yeol puppet, and his accomplices are intensifying."

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

The news of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment motion passage was also published in the Rodong Sinmun, which is read by residents. The newspaper placed the impeachment report on page 6, which covers external news. In the past, North Korea quickly reported the passage of the impeachment motion against former President Park Geun-hye on the day it was passed in December 2016.