DW 
South Korea’s National Assembly has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. It was the second impeachment vote Yoon faced, after a similar vote last week failed.
South Korea’s acting president has called for the country to maintain a “watertight readiness posture” to ensure North Korea cannot plan any provocations, local media quoted him as saying.
Han Duk-soo, the acting leader, ordered the military to bolster its security posture to prevent North Korea from launching provocations by miscalculation.
According to Han’s office, he tasked the foreign minister with informing other countries that South Korea’s major external policies remain unchanged and told the finance minister to work to minimize potential negative impacts on the economy by the political turmoil.
“I earnestly ask public servants this,” Han said in a televised statement. “At this moment, we have the critical task of ensuring normal and stable operations of state affairs … I ask you to carry out your duties without any neglect to ensure that the government is operated without being shaken.”
EU calls for ‘orderly resolution’ to South Korean political crisis
The European Union has called for a swift resolution to the political turmoil that has rocked South Korea since Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to impose martial law almost two weeks ago.
“The EU takes note of the decision by the National Assembly to impeach President Yoon Seok Yul. It is important now to ensure a swift and orderly resolution of the current political crisis in line with the Korean constitution,” EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper said in a statement.
Fanfare as protesters greet news
Protesters who have been backing Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment celebrated near the parliament building after hearing the news, waving colorful light sticks and playing upbeat music.
Many wore clothes decorated with Christmas decorations and Santa Outfits, as well as colorful K-pop light sticks normally reserved for concerts.
The AFP news agency spoke to one of the protesters, Choi Jung-ha, 52, as she danced in the street after the vote.
“Isn’t it amazing that we, the people, have pulled this off together?” she said.
“I am 100 percent certain the Constitutional Court will side with the impeachment.”
On the other side of Seoul, near Gwanghwamun Square, police estimated that some 30,000 had gathered in support of the impeached president.