South Korean opposition parties submit motion to impeach president

South Korea’s parliament says the country’s six opposition parties have submitted a new joint motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law.

The National Assembly said the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Yoon’s short-lived December 3 martial law declaration has triggered political chaos and large protests calling for his removal.

The Democratic Party has argued that Mr Yoon’s decree amounted to rebellion.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Yoon defended his decree as an act of governance and denied rebellion charges.