South Africa's Second Republic: A call to action for democracy and citizen agency
As South Africa approaches the milestone of 30 years of democracy, a powerful call for a Second Republic emerges, urging citizens to transform their aspirations into tangible actions.
Seoul, September 9 — Hundreds of South Koreans gathered outside the US embassy in protest against the potential deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, denouncing what they dubbed an "illegal war" by the United States. The demonstrators held signs reading "Do not join a war of aggression" as their leaders considered a "contribution" to securing the waterway.
US President Donald Trump has urged South Korea to assist in the conflict, which has seen Iran exert tight control over the critical strait that controls a fifth of global oil supplies. Protesters chanted, "We cannot send our young people into a sea of death!" outside Seoul’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where an estimated 60 people took part in the demonstration.
This follows a fact-finding mission dispatched by South Korean defense authorities to assess the situation in Hormuz, though no decision on deployment has been made. South Korea has proposed contributing to US security efforts along the strait, provided that its own military readiness is not compromised. Iran has warned that any South Korean involvement would be seen as "direct support for the party responsible for that aggression" and would have serious consequences.
Protesters, including Jung Kyung-jik of the civic group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, echoed Iran's stance, stating that a deployment would equate to participation in an illegal war. Trump has faced difficulties in garnering support from allies in the war, which the United States and Israel launched against Iran six months ago, and has hit a stalemate.
Iran maintains control over the strategic strait, which has been the main route for one-fifth of the world's oil since the war began, and the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Choi Young-ok, a member of Korean Peace Solidarity for Sovereignty and Reunification, emphasized that deploying troops to an "illegal war" launched by the United States would be unacceptable. A deployment would necessitate parliamentary approval by a majority vote in the National Assembly.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
