A man watches South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol speak during a news broadcast on a television at a train station in Seoul on December 3, 2024, after he declared emergency martial law, saying the step was necessary to protect the country from "communist forces" amid parliamentary wrangling over a budget bill. Anthony Wallace, AFP

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law, accusing the opposition of being "anti-state forces" and saying he was acting to protect the country from "threats" posed by the North.

Here is a timeline of what has happened so far:

• * Yoon declared martial law amid his party and the opposition party’s discussion over the country’s budget. This is South Korea’s first declaration of martial law since 1980. Yoon did not give details of the North's threats, but the South remains technically at war with nuclear-armed Pyongyang.
• South Korea president declares emergency martial law
• * Shortly after his announcement, helicopters land on the roof of the parliament building
• * The South Korean National Assembly was also sealed off.
• * Under the martial law, all political activities are banned in South Korea. All media will also be subject to government monitoring, martial law commander Park An-su said in a statement.
• * Hundreds of protesters gathered outside parliament demanding to be let inside as police guarded the building and special forces attempted to enter.
• * South Korea’s opposition leader called Yoon’s declaration “illegal”.
• * The South Korean National Assembly voted to block the martial law declaration. 
• * The National Assembly passed the resolution to revoke the emergency martial law declaration, with all 190 lawmakers that were present voting in favor.
• * Meanwhile, the White House said it is “closely” monitoring the situation in South Korea, a close ally of the US. A senior US official also expressed hope South Korea will follow “rule of law”.
• * South Korean troops have left the parliament building, according to the National Assembly speaker
• * An opposition leader also called Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional, void and illegal”

- with reports from Agence France-Presse