North Korea has finally spoken regarding the political crisis in South Korea, sharply condemning President Yoon Suk Yeol’s recent attempt to impose martial law. The statement, issued by the state-run KCNA news agency, characterized Yoon’s actions as “unleashing a dictatorship” and likened him to a “puppet” in crisis. The regime labelled his decision as an “insane act” and referred to South Korea as a “gangster nation.”
For first time North Korea has commented on the turmoil, which was triggered when President Yoon sought to root out what he termed “pro-North Korean, anti-state forces.” His order for martial law, however, was swiftly overturned by the South Korean parliament after just six hours, deepening the country’s political instability.
North Korea, governed by the Kim family since its inception in 1948, has maintained one of the world’s most authoritarian regimes, where dissent is brutally suppressed. While North Korea’s criticisms of Yoon may seem hypocritical, experts believe that Pyongyang may be seizing the opportunity to exploit the political chaos in South Korea to its advantage.
Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, suggested that authoritarian leaders like those in North Korea, Russia, and China may see South Korea’s instability as a potential opportunity for geopolitical gain. Yoon’s failed martial law order has raised doubts about his leadership and South Korea’s ability to maintain stability, which is vital for regional cooperation, particularly in addressing North Korea’s nuclear threat.
