On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the imposition of martial law, a decision which opposition figures have criticized as unconstitutional and have vowed to contest.

During a broadcast on YTN, Yoon explained that the declaration aims to “safeguard the Republic of Korea from the dangers posed by North Korean communist forces, eliminate the dangerous pro-North Korean anti-state individuals undermining our citizens’ freedom and happiness, and uphold our constitutional democracy.”

Yoon stated that the country’s opposition parties have effectively held the parliamentary system hostage, causing a national crisis that forced him to take this decisive action.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung indicated on YTN that parliament would work to overturn the martial law declaration.

This is the first time in over 40 years that martial law has been declared in South Korea, following a similar situation during the 1980s uprising against military rule.