Parliamentary aides in South Korea emptied fire extinguishers on armed troops entering the national assembly as protesters took to the streets.

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea declared emergency martial law during a late-night televised address on Tuesday. The President said during the address that he was halting "all political activities" and would use the time to eradicate “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces" in his country.

A conservative, Mr. Yoon won the presidency in 2022 by a slim margin, promising a more confrontational stance against North Korea. He quickly became unpopular and divisive at home.