How North Korea has capitalized when South’s leaders declare martial law | NK News
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January 14, 2025

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Analysis

How North Korea has capitalized when South’s leaders declare martial law

DPRK turned unrest to its advantage in 70s and 80s, shining light on how it could respond to Yoon’s aborted decree

Tensions in South Korea reached new heights after President Yoon Suk-yeol's late-night martial law declaration on Tuesday, an ultimately short-lived measure that he justified as targeting "pro-North, anti-state elements."

But while North Korea has yet to publicly respond to the events transpiring in the South, Yoon’s extreme actions were far from the first time that an ROK leader declared martial law, and a look back at these past instances can shed light on what Pyongyang will do now.

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