Wednesday Briefing: A brief martial law in South Korea

December 4, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering a short-lived martial law order in South Korea and China banning mineral exports to the U.S.

Plus, gladiator for a day.

A military vehicle surrounded is surrounded by law enforcement officers and protesters outside the National Assembly in Seoul.

Outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

South Korea’s president dropped his martial law order

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea promised to convene his cabinet and lift the emergency declaration of martial law that he imposed yesterday. His decision came hours after the National Assembly voted to end the order. Here’s the latest.

The backlash to Yoon’s order of martial law was swift. His own party criticized the move and the opposition condemned it as “illegal.” Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Seoul, demanding his resignation. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the largest and most militant unions, declared an “indefinite general strike” until Yoon stepped down.

Yoon, who is deeply unpopular, had issued the order in response to what he called an “insurgency” by the opposition that was “trying to overthrow the free democracy.” Martial law granted him the power to ban all political activities and take command of the news media. It was unclear if the government had taken either of those actions.

Context: Elected after a close race in 2022, Yoon has been in a near-constant political standoff with the opposition, which controls the National Assembly. This was South Korea’s first martial law declaration in more than four decades, after the end of a military dictatorship in the late 1980s. Here’s what else you need to know.

The Bayan Obo rare earth mineral mine, in Inner Mongolia, China in 2011. China Network/Reuters

China is banning rare mineral exports to the U.S.

China said that it would begin banning the export of several rare minerals to the U.S., an escalation of the tech war between the world’s two biggest powers. Sales of gallium, germanium, antimony and so-called superhard materials to the U.S. would be halted immediately because they have dual military and civilian uses, China’s Ministry of Commerce said. The export of graphite would also be subject to stricter review.

Analysis: The ban signals Beijing’s willingness to engage in supply chain warfare by blocking the export of components used to make products like weaponry and semiconductors. China is central to many global supply chains, but it generally refrained from clamping down on its own exports during the first Trump administration. Senior Chinese officials are worried that President-elect Donald Trump plans more stringent policies.

Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova sit opposite each other at a table beside a wall with wooden paneling.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his commissioner for children, Maria Lvova-Belova, in a photo released by the Russian state news media in May. Alexander Kazakov/Sputnik, via Shutterstock

A report on forced adoptions of children from Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and senior Kremlin officials “intentionally and directly” authorized coerced fostering and adoption of Ukrainian children during the war in Ukraine, according to a Yale University report. The report provides strong new evidence for a war crimes case against Putin and other officials, the researchers said.

Details: The investigation identified 314 children from Ukraine who were placed in a “systematic program of coerced adoption and fostering.” It details evidence of direct orders from senior Russian officials, including Putin, to carry out the adoption program.

What’s next: Ukrainian officials and members of the Yale research team are scheduled to explain their findings to a special meeting of the U.N. Security Council today, a statement said.

In the war: NATO’s new top diplomat suggested that Ukraine should put off peace talks with Russia until Western allies can send enough military aid to help Kyiv bolster its position beforehand.

MORE TOP NEWS

Smoke and rubble fill a street as people stand near the burning wreck of a car.

Idlib, Syria, on Monday. Ghaith Alsayed/Associated Press

Syria: Years of war and a powerful earthquake had led to crushing poverty, displacement and breakdowns in services. Over the last several days, the region’s misery deepened.
Tech: Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices and several start-ups are beginning to offer credible alternatives to Nvidia’s chips, especially for A.I. development.
Middle East: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump’s demand that hostages taken in the Oct. 7 attack be released from Gaza before his inauguration.
U.S.: Trump said that he would block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel upon taking office because the buyer is a foreign firm.
New Zealand: Three people from the U.S. and Canada were reported missing while trying to summit Mount Cook, the country's highest mountain, the local police said.
France: Its government is barreling toward a no-confidence vote that could lead to the collapse of the government. Here’s what you need to know.
Espionage: John Leung had been hailed by Chinese state media as a model for his efforts to promote Beijing’s interests in the U.S. But he was an F.B.I. informant.

Media: The author Stephen King said that he would shut down three radio stations in Maine that he has owned for four decades.

Sports

Soccer: The Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that Manchester City and Manchester United are not yet out of the title race.
Boxing: Israel Vasquez, a three-time super bantamweight world champion, has died at 46.
Tennis: This week on the Tennis Briefing, Karue Sell, a prominent tennis YouTuber who returned to the professional circuit in 2023, is now ranked No. 259 in the world.

MORNING READ

The Colosseum sits on a clear day with people standing under one of the arena’s arches.

Francesco Lastrucci for The New York Times

The Colosseum and Airbnb want to give a select few the chance to unleash their inner gladiator. Over two nights in May, re-enactment experts will teach up to 32 people how to fight in the sands of the ancient Roman arena. The plan has angered many Romans, who say it demeans a cultural treasure.

Lives lived: Neale Fraser, the tennis legend who won 19 Grand Slam titles and captained Australia to four Davis Cups, has died at age 91.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Julia Fox, wearing a chain-mesh top and black pants.

Justin French

Let your freak flag fly: Julia Fox, a writer and performer, shares her tips and explains why it’s never worth pretending to be normal.
At risk: Canada’s government and Quebec’s logging industry are at odds over efforts to protect woodland caribou. Today, there are perhaps 200 left.
Tycoon or tradwife? Hannah Neeleman’s picture-perfect life as a Mormon farm wife has made her both a social media star and a cultural lightning rod.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Vincent Tullo for The New York Times

The revolutionary sound of ‘The Nutcracker’

You’ve probably heard this part of “The Nutcracker” even if you’ve never seen it: over plucked string instruments, a glassy, bell-like melody emerges that evokes water drops. This is the famous “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” born on the stage and now a holiday staple that is heard in commercials and on movie soundtracks.

These days, it’s difficult to imagine that when this music was new, in 1892, it was really new. And so was the celesta, the instrument that was used to play it. Joshua Barone, a classical music editor, dived into the history of the instrument and how its popularity endures. Listen to how Tchaikovsky uses the celesta in “The Nutcracker” and learn why it was so revolutionary for its time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A metal spoon sits in a bowl of French toast casserole.

Christopher Testani for The New York Times

Cook: This French toast casserole is a crowd-pleaser. Dress it up with berries for an extra sweet kick.

Travel: Have only 36 hours to spend in Honolulu? We’ve got you covered.

Sustain: Staying healthy into old age is a better goal than trying to live as long as possible.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya

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