The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of involvement in an insurrection stemming from the short-lived martial law order issued by Yoon in December 2024, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Park’s sentence exceeded the 20-year prison term sought by prosecutors, who argued that he had abused his authority to facilitate the implementation of martial law and undermined the rule of law.

According to prosecutors, Park convened a meeting of senior Justice Ministry officials during the early hours of the martial law declaration and reviewed prison capacity in anticipation of potential arrests of political opponents and government critics.

The court ruled that, as justice minister, Park had instructed officials to cooperate with the martial law command structure on the assumption that its decrees would take effect, Yonhap reported.

The verdict marks the latest conviction arising from Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law, which lasted approximately six hours before lawmakers entered the National Assembly and voted to overturn the measure during an emergency session.

The move triggered a political and institutional crisis that shook South Korea’s democratic system, sparked nationwide protests and rattled financial markets while drawing concern from key allies, including the United States.

Yoon has since been convicted of leading an insurrection and is appealing a life sentence. Earlier this month, he was also sentenced to 30 years in prison in a separate case after being found guilty of sending drones into North Korea in an alleged attempt to manufacture a security crisis that could justify emergency rule.

Several senior members of Yoon’s administration have also received prison terms.

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is serving a 15-year sentence, while former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min was sentenced to nine years in prison. A former defense minister was jailed last week for three years after being convicted of disclosing classified military information connected to the martial law operation.

Separately, former first lady Kim Keon Hee is serving a four-year prison sentence for stock manipulation and bribery offenses unrelated to the martial law case.

The convictions represent one of the most extensive legal reckonings involving a former South Korean administration since the country’s transition to democratic rule, with prosecutors continuing to pursue accountability for officials involved in the failed attempt to impose emergency military authority.

The statement issued Wednesday during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Brussels described what it called “illegal military cooperation” between North Korea and Russia and urged third parties to stop supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

North Korea’s foreign ministry rejected the criticism, saying its cooperation with Russia constituted an “exercise of sovereign rights” and accusing Seoul and Brussels of issuing a “grave hostile act,” according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The EU–South Korea statement said: “We condemn support by third parties, in particular the DPRK, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Pyongyang separately reiterated its long-standing position that South Korea is its primary “enemy state” and accused Seoul of acting in line with Washington’s security strategy in the region.

The North Korean response also referenced recent remarks by a senior US military official in South Korea, which Pyongyang and Beijing previously criticized as reflecting US containment policy in Asia.

North Korea has deepened its alignment with Russia during the Ukraine conflict, including reports of weapons transfers and troop deployments, according to Western and South Korean intelligence assessments.

Kim Jong Un has expanded cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, while also strengthening diplomatic engagement with China amid shifting regional alliances.

Voters are choosing 16 mayors and provincial governors, along with 14 lawmakers in parliamentary by-elections. Opinion polls indicate Lee’s liberal Democratic Party of Korea is favored to outperform the conservative People Power Party, which remains weakened following the removal and conviction of former president Yoon Suk Yeol over his 2024 martial law declaration.

Political analysts say the elections will show whether Lee’s strong approval ratings, currently above 60%, can translate into long-term political dominance. Particular attention is focused on the closely watched Seoul mayoral race, seen as a major indicator of public sentiment toward the government.

As of noon, voter turnout stood at 19%, according to election officials, with about 44.6 million eligible voters registered nationwide.

The results are also expected to shape the future of South Korea’s conservative opposition, which remains divided between reformists and supporters of Yoon.

In commentary carried by state media, analyst Kim Myong Chol said the statement demonstrated that the United States intended to use South Korea as a geopolitical tool in its regional competition with China. He accused Washington of undermining peace and stability in the region.

Brunson made the remarks in a recent interview, where he also described Japan as a “shield” against China’s regional ambitions. The comments have drawn criticism from both North Korea and China.

South Korea’s presidential office said it was aware of the remarks and remained in communication with Washington on related issues. Local media reported that Seoul had conveyed concerns to U.S. officials.

The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea as part of its long-standing security alliance aimed at deterring threats from nuclear-armed North Korea.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were fired from Jongju, a city on North Korea’s west coast, and traveled toward the sea. The military did not immediately disclose the number of missiles launched or their flight distances.

Seoul said it had strengthened its surveillance and readiness posture following the launches and was closely coordinating with the United States and Japan on intelligence assessments and monitoring activities.
The test was North Korea’s first known missile launch since April 19, when Pyongyang fired multiple short-range missiles that state media described as part of an exercise involving cluster-bomb warheads.

The latest launch extends a pattern of weapons testing that has intensified as North Korea advances its military modernization programs.
Kim has prioritized the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and missile forces since negotiations with then-U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 without an agreement on sanctions relief and denuclearization.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in reviving direct engagement with Kim. However, North Korea has largely ignored those overtures and has maintained that Washington must abandon demands for unilateral nuclear disarmament before meaningful negotiations can resume.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have also deteriorated sharply. Kim has increasingly characterized South Korea as North Korea’s principal adversary and has moved to sever longstanding channels of inter-Korean cooperation and dialogue.

The missile launches came hours after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for accelerated efforts to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities during a Cabinet meeting. Lee highlighted the importance of investing in artificial intelligence-driven military systems, expanding drone capabilities and examining the potential acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine.

While Lee did not directly address Tuesday’s missile launches, he emphasized the need for South Korea to demonstrate its ability to safeguard its own security interests. He said a stronger national defense posture would reinforce the country’s alliance with the United States.

The latest test is likely to draw renewed scrutiny from regional security partners as tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain elevated and diplomatic engagement between North Korea and its neighbors shows little sign of revival.

The discussions took place during recent meetings of the bilateral Integrated Defense Dialogue in Washington, according to a South Korean defense ministry spokesperson, who said talks had made “progress” but denied reports suggesting the move would create joint or divided control of the Demilitarized Zone.

“It is not joint management. Nor is it divided management,” the spokesperson told reporters. “It is making DMZ management in some sections more realistic.”

The Demilitarized Zone, established under the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War, remains one of the world’s most heavily armed borders. The conflict ended without a formal peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.

The United Nations Command, led by the United States, oversees the DMZ under the terms of the armistice agreement. Seoul said consultations with Washington were focused on technical and operational arrangements in certain sections of the border while respecting the authority of the UN Command.

The talks come amid renewed debate in South Korea over wartime operational control of allied forces. President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to seek the transfer of wartime command authority from Washington to Seoul during his presidency, which runs through 2030.

Under the current framework, the United States would command combined South Korean and U.S. forces in the event of war on the peninsula. Successive governments in Seoul, however, have sought greater military autonomy while maintaining the bilateral alliance.

The discussions also coincide with a broader recalibration in South Korea’s policy language toward North Korea. In its 2026 white paper, Seoul’s Unification Ministry described the two Koreas as effectively existing as separate states while reaffirming the long-term goal of reunification.

The shift reflects evolving security dynamics on the peninsula as North Korea continues expanding its missile and nuclear programs amid stalled diplomatic engagement with Washington and Seoul.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Seoul, Lee said the South Korean citizens had been detained without valid legal grounds and suggested the incident required a firm diplomatic response from his government.

Lee did not provide further details regarding the identities of the detained nationals or the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

The remarks marked one of the strongest public criticisms of Israel by the South Korean administration since escalating tensions in the Middle East triggered broader international scrutiny over maritime operations and regional security measures.

Lee also referred to international legal pressure facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying many European countries appeared prepared to act on warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.
However, Lee said South Korea would make an independent assessment regarding any potential legal or diplomatic measures involving Israel.

The comments come amid heightened international debate over maritime interdictions, humanitarian flotillas and military operations linked to the conflict in Gaza and wider regional tensions involving Israel and its allies.

Neither Israeli officials nor South Korea’s foreign ministry immediately issued additional public statements regarding the detentions.

The union said on Saturday that Samsung had replaced its lead negotiator ahead of renewed talks and that both sides would also hold a separate meeting later in the day. The company declined to comment on the discussions.

The announcement followed a public apology from Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee over the escalating labor dispute, marking his first direct remarks on the issue.“I sincerely apologise to customers around the world for causing anxiety and concern due to issues within our company,” Lee said in Seoul, adding that he also “deeply bows in apology to the public.

”Union leaders said Samsung’s newly appointed negotiator acknowledged a breakdown in trust and pledged to engage more sincerely in discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.

The South Korean government has stepped up pressure on both sides after mediated negotiations collapsed earlier this week, raising the prospect of a strike that officials warned could disrupt exports, financial markets and broader economic growth.

South Korea’s labor minister met Samsung management on Saturday and urged the company to take a more active role in resolving the standoff through dialogue.The union said on Friday it still intended to proceed with a planned strike next week despite Samsung’s proposal to restart negotiations without preconditions.

Concerns over potential industrial action have intensified because Samsung plays a central role in the global semiconductor supply chain. The company supplies chips to major technology firms including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices and Alphabet.

Government officials, including South Korea’s prime minister and finance minister, have warned that prolonged disruption at Samsung could have significant implications for the country’s export-driven economy.

The 40-year-old suspect is alleged to have headed a hacking organization operating from overseas bases, including Thailand, that targeted websites of low-cost mobile carriers and other companies between August 2023 and April 2025, according to a statement from South Korea’s Justice Ministry.

The suspect was arrested in Bangkok during an Interpol-coordinated operation and transferred to South Korea through cooperation between Thai authorities and Seoul’s National Police Agency. He arrived at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday, officials said.

Investigators allege the group used illegally acquired personal data to infiltrate financial and cryptocurrency accounts before making unauthorized withdrawals from victims.

South Korean media reports said the alleged victims included celebrities, senior business executives and startup founders. Jungkook, a member of global K-pop group BTS, was among those reportedly targeted.

According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper, Jungkook’s securities account identity was allegedly compromised and shares in HYBE valued at 8.4 billion won ($5.6 million) were transferred without authorization.

The report said the singer avoided financial losses after payment suspension measures were implemented immediately.

South Korean authorities said an alleged accomplice, a 36-year-old Chinese national arrested in Thailand in May 2025, had already been extradited to South Korea in August last year and was indicted the following month. Court proceedings against him remain ongoing.

South Korean prosecutors and investigators traveled to Thailand in July 2025 for meetings with Thai police and prosecutors as part of the cross-border investigation, according to officials.

The case highlights growing regional cooperation among Asian law enforcement agencies against cybercrime networks that increasingly operate across jurisdictions and target digital financial systems, cryptocurrency holdings and personal data infrastructures.

Kim, the wife of jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol, had initially been sentenced in January to 20 months in prison for bribery but was cleared of allegations that she helped manipulate stock prices and of several other charges.Both Kim and prosecutors appealed the ruling, with Kim seeking to clear her name and prosecutors arguing that the sentence was too lenient and that the acquittals were unjustified.

The Seoul High Court ruled on Tuesday that Kim had participated in manipulating the share price of Deutsch Motors, a South Korean car dealer, describing the activity as a “collusive trading act constituting market manipulation.”“The defendant appears to have participated in such conduct,” the court said in its televised judgment.

The court sentenced Kim to four years in prison and imposed a fine of 50 million won ($34,000), significantly increasing the punishment from the original trial.It also upheld her bribery conviction, ruling that her conduct had undermined confidence in government integrity.

“As a result of her accepting bribes, public trust in the transparency of state affairs and the fair execution of national policy was undermined,” the court said.Judges added that Kim had failed to accept responsibility and had instead “consistently resorted to excuses,” though they noted her lack of any prior criminal record in determining the sentence.

Kim, 53, appeared in court wearing a white face mask and kept her head lowered as the verdict was delivered.Her legal team told AFP they would appeal the decision to South Korea’s Supreme Court.Kim remained one of the most controversial public figures during Yoon’s presidency, with repeated scandals often overshadowing his administration.

In 2023, secretly recorded footage appeared to show her accepting a luxury Dior handbag, intensifying political backlash and contributing to falling approval ratings for Yoon’s government.The controversy was widely seen as a factor in the ruling party’s defeat in the April 2024 parliamentary elections, where it failed to regain a legislative majority.

Yoon later vetoed three opposition-backed bills seeking investigations into allegations surrounding Kim, including the Dior handbag case, with his final veto issued in November 2024.One week later, he declared martial law, a move that failed and triggered his impeachment, removal from office and eventual sentencing in February this year to life imprisonment for insurrection.

Yoon has appealed that conviction, saying his martial law declaration was made “solely for the sake of the nation.”Another appeal verdict related to his separate five-year sentence for obstruction of justice and other crimes connected to the declaration is expected on Wednesday.

Kim’s bribery case also implicated Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, who is accused of providing luxury gifts including two Chanel handbags and a Graff necklace.The court ruled Tuesday that all three items constituted bribes.

In the lower court’s January ruling, one of the handbags had not been classified as a bribe because it was allegedly gifted before Yoon’s presidential inauguration.

Han, 83, is standing trial on bribery and other charges and is currently receiving medical treatment after being temporarily released from custody.