SEOUL, South Korea: The Latest on the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye :South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been officially stripped of power after being impeached.
The suspension of Park’s power was made Friday when her office received a copy of the impeachment motion hand-delivered by National Assembly officials.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn now steps in as acting president until the country’s Constitutional Court deliberates on whether to formally end her presidency or reinstate her. The court has up to 180 days.
Aides say President Park Geun-hye has replaced one of her advisers just before she was impeached.
Friday’s reshuffle will be Park’s last if the Constitutional Court makes a decision to formally end her presidency.
During court deliberations that can take up to 180 days, Park’s presidential powers including those related to personnel appointments are suspended.
Park’s office says she accepted the resignation by Choi Jai-kyeong, presidential secretary for civil affairs, and named lawyer Cho Dae-hwan to replace him.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who will assume President Park Geun-hye’s duties following her impeachment, has instructed Defense Minister Han Min Koo to keep a close watch on North Korea and prepare for any crisis.
Hwang’s office said Friday he also called Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and raised the need to maintain close cooperation with the international community in implementing sanctions against the North over its nuclear weapons and missiles program.
Hwang’s office says he asked Yun to provide explanations to other countries that there will be no major changes to Seoul’s foreign policy.
Hwang’s office says he was planning to chair an emergency Cabinet meeting and also a National Security Council meeting later on Friday.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry, which handles affairs related to rival North Korea, says the government will maintain “without disruption” its policies toward the North following President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment.
The ministry says the government will maintain a close watch on North Korea following the vote.
Earlier Friday, South Korea’s defense minister ordered heightened military readiness to brace for any possible provocation by North Korea, although no suspicious activities have been observed.
