In a tense moment outside the South Korean National Assembly, opposition party leader An Gwi-ryeong grabbed a soldier's rifle, saying that she would be the last line to stop military entry into parliament during the chaos trigerred after the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In a tense moment outside the South Korean National Assembly, opposition party leader An Gwi-ryeong grabbed a soldier's rifle, saying that she would be the last line to stop military entry into parliament during the chaos trigerred after the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The shocking event took place around 10 pm as troops tried to prevent lawmakers from entering the National Assembly for a vote on the martial law decree. A widely circulated video captured An in a tussle with a soldier for his rifle that both held in a tug-of-war at one stage, and the soldier directly pointed the deadly weapon at her. The leader yelled at the soldier, "Aren't you ashamed?" A spokesperson for the main opposition, the Democratic Party, said that Gwi-ryeong was "angered" by the military's actions. "Even when they were under orders, armed soldiers pointing guns at citizens in the National Assembly and intervening in proceedings of the lawmakers is an obvious illegality," she said. Reflecting on the confrontation, An confessed she's never held a gun before, so at first, she was intimidated. But her fear turned into urgency. "During the physical confrontation, I almost tried to block them with my body. As they grabbed my arm and pushed, I resisted and came to think that I had actually pushed the gun away during that process," she said. Her main concern in that tense moment was to stop the troops from entering the National Assembly. "If the troops had entered the assembly and disrupted the vote, we wouldn't be here today, and we wouldn't have been able to lift martial law." This followed President Yoon’s sudden and controversial martial law declaration, which surprised even members of his own party. Protests erupted amid defiance from lawmakers as An and others gathered inside the assembly to vote against the decree. Furniture was used to barricade the entrances to block the entry of soldiers. After the severe backlash and public protests, martial law was lifted hours after it had been imposed due to the defiance of lawmakers. An expressed concern over South Korea's hard-won democracy. "I'm worried that our democracy is crumbling and regressing," she said. The political crisis continues with an impeachment motion against President Yoon expected soon. Lawmakers are pledging to safeguard their constitutional rights and rejecting all further attempts to impose martial law by Yoon. (With inputs from agencies)

Aren't you ashamed?: S Korean oppn MP who grabbed soldier's gun during martial law protest

South Korea's military said it was on alert for more trash-carrying balloons possibly arriving from North Korea on Sunday.

In two waves last week, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons with bags of trash into the South, describing them as a response to anti-Pyongyang propaganda balloons sent the other way by South Korean activists.

Pyongyang announced a halt to the balloons on Sunday but days later, a South Korean group called "Fighters for Free North Korea" said it had sent 10 balloons with K-pop music and 200,000 leaflets against leader Kim Jong Un.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/balloon-war-south-korea-flies-balloons-with-anti-kim-jong-un-material-music-flash-drives-into-north-korea-729209">South Korea flies balloons with anti-Kim Jong Un material, music flash drives into North Korea</a>

The South Korean military is "closely monitoring with vigilance" because of "the possibility of more trash balloons descending around tomorrow", its spokesperson told AFP on Saturday.

North Korea had said it would respond with "wastepaper and rubbish" a hundred times the amount if more South Korean leaflets were sent.

The North Korean balloons last week landed in a number of locations in the South, and were found to be carrying garbage such as cigarette butts, cardboard scrap and waste batteries.

In response to the balloons, South Korea on Tuesday completely suspended a 2018 military deal with the North, which was meant to reduce tensions between the neighbours.

Authorities in Seoul have condemned the North Korean balloons as a "low-class" act and threatened countermeasures that it said Pyongyang would find "unendurable".

<h2>- Duelling propaganda -</h2>

Activists in South Korea have long sent balloons northwards, filled with anti-Pyongyang propaganda, cash, rice, and Korean TV series on USB thumb drives.

These have always infuriated North Korea, whose government is extremely sensitive about its people gaining access to South Korean pop culture.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-seoul-warns-public-to-avoid-more-balloons-sent-from-north-korea-727916" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-seoul-warns-public-to-avoid-more-balloons-sent-from-north-korea-727916&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQkpHJxsuGAxU9UGcHHf9HBB0QFnoECAcQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3XsU233x6oqm0EEki_0I1A&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-seoul-warns-public-to-avoid-more-balloons-sent-from-north-korea-727916" target="_blank">North Korea to stop sending&nbsp;balloons&nbsp;carrying trash into South Korea</a>

Kuensaem, another South Korean activist group, told AFP that it threw 500 plastic bottles into the sea on Friday near the border with North Korea.

The bottles were filled with rice, cash and a USB drive with the South Korean series "Crash Landing on You" -- which features a romance between a wealthy South Korean heiress and a North Korean army officer.

The group has been doing this twice a month since 2015.&nbsp;

"We were just doing what we've been doing for a long time to help North Koreans who are starving," the group's leader Park Jung-oh told AFP Saturday.

Tensions over the duelling propaganda have boiled over in dramatic fashion in the past.

In 2020, blaming the anti-North leaflets, Pyongyang unilaterally cut off all official military and political communication links with Seoul and blew up a disused inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-suspend-military-pact-with-north-over-trash-balloons-728569" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-suspend-military-pact-with-north-over-trash-balloons-728569&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQkpHJxsuGAxU9UGcHHf9HBB0QFnoECAgQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1HvMrBr-J4l-9gpmF90lvE&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-suspend-military-pact-with-north-over-trash-balloons-728569" target="_blank">South Korea to suspend military pact with North over trash&nbsp;balloons</a>

Last year, South Korea's Constitutional Court struck down a 2020 law that criminalised the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda, calling it an undue limitation on free speech.

Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong mocked South Korea for complaining about the balloons last week, saying North Koreans were simply exercising their freedom of expression.

South Korea's military said it was on alert for more trash-carrying balloons possibly arriving from North Korea on Sunday. In two waves last week, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons with bags of trash into the South, describing them as a response to anti-Pyongyang propaganda balloons sent the other way by South Korean activists.

South Korea's military said it was on alert for more trash-carrying balloons possibly arriving from North Korea on Sunday. In two waves last week, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons with bags of trash into the South, describing them as a response to anti-Pyongyang propaganda balloons sent the other way by South Korean activists. Pyongyang announced a halt to the balloons on Sunday but days later, a South Korean group called "Fighters for Free North Korea" said it had sent 10 balloons with K-pop music and 200,000 leaflets against leader Kim Jong Un. Also read: South Korea flies balloons with anti-Kim Jong Un material, music flash drives into North Korea The South Korean military is "closely monitoring with vigilance" because of "the possibility of more trash balloons descending around tomorrow", its spokesperson told AFP on Saturday. North Korea had said it would respond with "wastepaper and rubbish" a hundred times the amount if more South Korean leaflets were sent. The North Korean balloons last week landed in a number of locations in the South, and were found to be carrying garbage such as cigarette butts, cardboard scrap and waste batteries. In response to the balloons, South Korea on Tuesday completely suspended a 2018 military deal with the North, which was meant to reduce tensions between the neighbours. Authorities in Seoul have condemned the North Korean balloons as a "low-class" act and threatened countermeasures that it said Pyongyang would find "unendurable". - Duelling propaganda - Activists in South Korea have long sent balloons northwards, filled with anti-Pyongyang propaganda, cash, rice, and Korean TV series on USB thumb drives. These have always infuriated North Korea, whose government is extremely sensitive about its people gaining access to South Korean pop culture. Also read: North Korea to stop sending balloons carrying trash into South Korea Kuensaem, another South Korean activist group, told AFP that it threw 500 plastic bottles into the sea on Friday near the border with North Korea. The bottles were filled with rice, cash and a USB drive with the South Korean series "Crash Landing on You" -- which features a romance between a wealthy South Korean heiress and a North Korean army officer. The group has been doing this twice a month since 2015. "We were just doing what we've been doing for a long time to help North Koreans who are starving," the group's leader Park Jung-oh told AFP Saturday. Tensions over the duelling propaganda have boiled over in dramatic fashion in the past. In 2020, blaming the anti-North leaflets, Pyongyang unilaterally cut off all official military and political communication links with Seoul and blew up a disused inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border. Also read: South Korea to suspend military pact with North over trash balloons Last year, South Korea's Constitutional Court struck down a 2020 law that criminalised the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda, calling it an undue limitation on free speech. Kim Jong Un's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong mocked South Korea for complaining about the balloons last week, saying North Koreans were simply exercising their freedom of expression.

South Korea on alert for more trash balloons from the North

At least 37,000 global scouts are currently being evacuated from South Korea's World Scout Jamboree as Typhoon Khanun continues to near the country. More than 1,000 vehicles have been pressed into service to escort 37,000 scouts, mostly teenagers from the coastal area to inland venues, according to news agency AFP.

At least 37,000 global scouts are currently being evacuated from South Korea's World Scout Jamboree as Typhoon Khanun continues to near the country. More than 1,000 vehicles have been pressed into service to escort 37,000 scouts, mostly teenagers from the coastal area to inland venues, according to news agency AFP. The majority of the evacuees are being accommodated in Seoul and the capital's metropolitan area. More than 270 police cars and four helicopters have been deployed to escort the buses that began departing the site at 9 am, local time, according to Lee Sang-min, South Korea’s Minister of the Interior and Safety. The evacuation is expected to take six hours or more. “Local governments are checking the sanitation of the accommodation venues and restrooms and are preparing medical measures to ensure that the (Scouts) would be safe and comfortable after they arrive,” said Lee. The event opened last week in Buan, a county on South Korea's southwestern coast and was expected to be a celebration of South Korea's rich cultural heritage but soon turned chaotic due to the news of the approaching storm. According to Japan Meteorological Agency, the storm was currently centred 350 kilometres (217 miles) south of Kagoshima, a city on the southwestern tip of Japan’s main southern island of Kyushu. Khanun had winds of 108 kph (67 mph) with gusts to 144 kph (89 mph) and was moving slowly north. Also read | US, UK Scouts being removed from World Scout Jamboree in South Korea amid heatwave Lawmaker urges BTS to intervene While the evacuation brings national embarrassment to the authorities, a South Korean lawmaker has urged K-pop group BTS to intervene. Lawmaker Sung Il-jong said South Korea's military should grant leave passes to BTS members so that they can reunite and perform for the scouts, left stranded by the jamboree fiasco. "For these precious guests, it is necessary to fill the lack of schedule... with the power of Korean culture," said Sung on his Facebook page. Sung, who is also part of the parliament's national defence committee, said the jamboree had "tarnished our country's reputation due to inadequate preparation and poor management". WATCH | South Korea issues 'serious' weather warning On Monday, South Korea's presidential office said that President Yoon Suk Yeol was informed about the contingency plan for the Jamboree in the wake of the typhoon approaching, hinting that the scouts are likely to stay in Seoul for the remainder of their stay. "By 'contingency plan', it means the scouts' accommodation and the remaining schedule can be moved to the metropolitan area including Seoul," said Yoon's office, in a statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

South Korea: Over 1,000 buses deployed to evacuate 37,000 scouts as typhoon nears

For the first time, a giant panda has given birth to twin cubs at a theme park in South Korea. The twins, both female, were born at the Everland theme park near the capital city of Seoul last week.

For the first time, a giant panda has given birth to twin cubs at a theme park in South Korea. The twins, both female, were born at the Everland theme park near the capital city of Seoul last week. "This feels like a great opportunity to call for better protection and preservation of pandas, which have become a symbol for endangered species," Donghee Chung, the head of the zoo, said. While the first twin weighed 180 grams, the second, which arrived two hours later, weighed 140 grams. Ai Bao was the proud mother of the pandas and could be seen caring for her newborns while the veterinarians examined the tiny cubs. After the birth, the resort released a statement saying the mother and her newborns were in good health. The resort workers will now observe the cubs' health and determine when to unveil them to the public. Ai Bao, who was brought alongside Le Bao, a male panda to South Korea from China in 2016 on a 15-year lease, had previously birthed a female cub named Fu Bao. "Compared to when Fu Bao was born, there are two of them this time and I think (the parents) must be twice as happy," zookeeper Cherwon Kang said. Giant panda Ai Bao gave birth to female twin cubs on July 7 at South Korea's Everland Resort. The twin cubs are the first pair of giant panda cubs born overseas this year and also the first giant panda twins born in South Korea pic.twitter.com/IidjUHLcgh — Chinese Mission to UN (@Chinamission2un) July 11, 2023 × Also read | Female giant panda on loan from China dies suddenly in Thai zoo, Beijing to investigate cause of death Fu Bao's birth Fu Bao also attracted media attention after her birth. However, South Koreans expressed displeasure when it was announced that baby Fu will have to return to China about a year from now to find a mate. “The happiness of people should be seen differently from the happiness of animals. As a zookeeper, I want to put the happiness of animals first," said Kang Chul-won, a zookeeper at the theme park. WATCH | Giant Panda Tuan Tuan, gifted by China to Taiwan, dies × The average life expectancy of a giant panda is about 15 years. However, in captivity, some have managed to live for as long as 38 years. Though keeping pandas away from their natural habitat may not go down well with some, it is part of decades-old conservation efforts that have led to an increase in their population. According to reports, between 40 per cent to 50 per cent of panda births result in twins. The species was facing extinction at a time with fewer than 1,000 remaining, but since the start of conservation efforts, the numbers have increased to 1,800 in the wild and captivity. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Giant panda gives birth to twins for first time in South Korea

South Korea, Japan and the United States are set to coordinate sanctions and close gaps in the international sanctions against North Korea. Watch this video to know more.

South Korea, U.S. and Japan to coordinate sanctions on North Korea