South Korea Impeachment, Israel Attacks Houthis, Georgia's Political Crisis

Summary

Up First from NPR – December 27, 2024

NPR's "Up First" delivers the three biggest stories of the day with insightful reporting and analysis. In this episode, host Sarah McCammon navigates listeners through significant global events: the political turmoil in South Korea, escalating conflict between Israel and the Houthis in Yemen, and a brewing political crisis in Georgia. Here's a detailed summary of the episode’s key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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1. South Korea's Political Upheaval: Impeachment of Acting President Han Deok Soo

Overview: South Korea is experiencing a severe political crisis marked by the impeachment of its acting president, Han Deok Soo. This move follows the impeachment of former President Yoon Sang Yeol, who faced backlash for attempting to impose martial law.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Less than a month after impeaching Yoon Sang Yeol, South Korea's parliament has now impeached Han Deok Soo, marking the first time an acting president has been removed from office in the country's history. (00:03)

• Reasons for Impeachment: The opposition-controlled parliament accuses Han of refusing to appoint three justices to the Constitutional Court, a body set to rule on Yoon's impeachment. Han contends that appointing justices is the president's prerogative, not the acting president's. (02:53)

• Current Leadership: With Han ousted, Finance Minister Chae Song Mok has assumed the role of acting president. Mok has expressed concerns about the country's stability, highlighting economic challenges such as a significant slump in the currency and declining business confidence. (03:27 – 04:09)

• Future Implications: The Constitutional Court is preparing for Yoon's trial, with a decision expected within 180 days. If Yoon is removed, new presidential elections will be necessary, potentially causing months of uncertainty. The crisis has also sparked discussions about revising South Korea’s political system to ensure better checks and balances. (04:16 – 05:36)

Notable Quotes:

• Anthony Kuhn, NPR International Correspondent: “If the Constitutional Court decides to remove Yoon, then the country will need to hold a new presidential election, and that could all take months.” (05:03)

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2. Israel’s Escalated Attacks on Houthi Targets in Yemen

Overview: Israel has intensified its military campaign against the Iran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen, marking the most aggressive strikes to date. These attacks target key infrastructure, including international airports and power stations, amidst escalating tensions in the region.

Key Points:

• Details of the Strikes: Israel launched airstrikes targeting Sana'a’s international airport, power stations, and ports, resulting in at least six fatalities and numerous injuries. Approximately 25 fighter jets conducted the operations, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to degrading Houthi capabilities. (05:49 – 06:22)

• Motivation Behind the Attacks: Israel claims the strikes are retaliation for missile attacks launched from Yemen and aims to disrupt the Houthi's ability to smuggle weapons into Yemen using the airport’s facilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that these strikes are part of a broader strategy to dismantle the “terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil.” (06:16 – 07:11)

• Regional Implications: The conflict is part of a larger struggle between Iran-backed groups and Israel, with the Houthis also threatening to continue attacks until Israel withdraws from Gaza. Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Houthis remain steadfast in their aggression. (07:17 – 09:37)

• Challenges Faced by Israel: Israel is currently engaged on multiple fronts, including ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, stretching its military resources thin. Additionally, intelligence on Houthis is limited, complicating strategic planning. Collaboration with the United States may become necessary to effectively counter the Houthi threat. (08:25 – 09:33)

Notable Quotes:

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister: “Such strikes will continue to cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil and continue until we complete the job. We are only just starting.” (06:22 – 07:11)

• Carrie Khan, NPR International Correspondent in Tel Aviv: “They are stretched. And Hezbollah said it wouldn't stop attacking Israel until the Gaza war ends, the same as the Houthis are saying.” (08:25 – 09:33)

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3. Georgia's Political Crisis: Disputed Presidency and Pro-European Tensions

Overview: Georgia stands on the brink of a political showdown as the country prepares to inaugurate a new president amidst widespread protests and a disputed election. The crisis is further complicated by Georgia’s strained relationship with Russia and its aspirations to join the European Union (EU).

Key Points:

• Election and Inauguration: Mikhail Kavilashvili, a former soccer player and member of the pro-government Georgian Dream Party, is set to be inaugurated as president. His pro-Russian stance has sparked significant opposition from pro-European factions. (09:46 – 10:23)

• Opposition’s Standpoint: Incumbent President Salome Zourabichvili refuses to step down, positioning herself as the defender of Georgia’s democratic and pro-European trajectory. Protests erupted after the government suspended EU membership talks, with demonstrators demanding new elections and accusing the government of veering away from Europe. (10:23 – 11:23)

• Russian Influence: The Kremlin has been implicated in undermining Georgian sovereignty, supporting the government's controversial policies, and expressing approval of legislation that restricts civil liberties. The Georgian Dream Party’s leader has close ties to Russia, raising concerns about Putin’s influence over Georgian politics. (11:28 – 12:33)

• Future Prospects: The Georgian government plans to revisit EU membership in 2028, hoping to realign with Western interests. There is uncertainty surrounding the U.S. administration's stance under President Trump, though many Georgians remain hopeful for continued Western support. Potential sanctions and international pressure could play a role in resolving the political standoff. (12:41 – 13:20)

Notable Quotes:

• Robin Forrest Deer Walker, Reporter: “With two presidents claiming legitimacy, and with the prime minister threatening to arrest Zourabichvili, there's a real risk of confrontation.” (10:23 – 10:32)

• President Salome Zourabichvili: “She believes the government is taking Georgia off its constitutionally mandated pro-European path.” (10:32 – 10:32)

• Robin Forrest Deer Walker: “President Zourabichvili has openly accused the Kremlin of undermining Georgian sovereignty.” (11:23 – 12:33)

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Conclusion: This episode of "Up First" from NPR provides a comprehensive look into three critical global issues. South Korea's unprecedented political instability highlights the fragility of its democratic institutions. Israel's intensified actions against the Houthis signal a potential escalation in Middle Eastern conflicts, while Georgia's internal political strife underscores the complex interplay between democratic aspirations and external geopolitical pressures. Through detailed reporting and expert insights, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of these unfolding events.

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For Continued Coverage: Stay informed by subscribing to "Up First" available on various podcast platforms. Support NPR’s journalism and explore deeper analyses by subscribing to Up First+ for an ad-free experience.

Transcript

[Sarah McCammon]

South Korea has voted to impeach its acting president. The vote comes just two weeks after the former president was impeached following a failed attempt to impose martial law. What's behind the country's political upheaval? I'm Sarah McCammon. This is up first from NPR News. Israel has struck Houthi targets in Yemen, including an international airport in the country's capital, power stations and ports. What comes next as fighting between the Iran supported group and Israel escalates and the country of Georgia is set to swear in a new president this weekend, but the incumbent president refuses to stand down following a disputed election. A look at the brewing showdown between the country's opposition and the government. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

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[Sarah McCammon]

It's been less than a month since South Korea's parliament voted to impeach President Yoon Sang Yeol for imposing martial law. Now parliament has voted to impeach his replacement. It's the first time South Korea has impeached an acting president, and it illustrates the seriousness of the political crisis gripping one of Asia's key Democracies. NPR international correspondent Anthony Kuhn joins us now from Seoul. Hi there, Anthony.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Hey, Sarah.

[Sarah McCammon]

So tell us about the acting president and why Parliament wants him out.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Han Deok Soo is Prime minister, and he was made acting president when Yoon Sung Yeol was impeached. Now, in South Korea, the president appoints the prime minister. So he's like. He's like a vice president, and he's in line to succeed the president. Now, the opposition party which controls the parliament says that Han refused to appoint three justices to fill vacancies on the Constitutional Court. And that's the court which will rule on President Yoon's impeachment. Han says he didn't appoint them because that's up to the president to do. And he's. He's the acting president, which raises the.

[Sarah McCammon]

Question, who is running the country now?

[Anthony Kuhn]

Good question. So the Finance Minister, Chae Song Mok, who doubles as the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic affairs, is now the acting president. Earlier today, before the impeachment vote, Che argued that if they impeach Acting President Hahn, it would leave the country, as he put it, without a control tower. And he pointed to the problems, the instability going on right now. The currency, the yuan, has slumped to its lowest level against the doll in 16 years. Business confidence is at its lowest since the pandemic. And the government has been trying to stabilize the situation and reassure people, and their job just got a lot bigger.

[Sarah McCammon]

Okay, so. So back to former President Yoon, the president who declared martial law and kicked all of this off. What's the latest with him?

[Anthony Kuhn]

Well, the Constitutional Court had its first hearing today to prepare for the trial. They have 180 days to decide whether they're going to remove Yoon or reinstate him. But they say this impeachment trial is their top priority, and they're going to move quick. Now, besides the impeachment, Yoon is also facing charges of insurrection. And investigators have summoned him two times to appear for questioning, and he has ignored them both times. Meanwhile, the police are trying to gather in evidence, and they raided a presidential safe house today to try to find out who Yoon was meeting with and talking to before he declared martial law. They even tried to raid Yoon's presidential security detail office, but the security did not let the police in.

[Sarah McCammon]

Lots of twists and turns here, Anthony. Any idea how long this gridlock might last?

[Anthony Kuhn]

So if the Constitutional Court decides to remove Yoon, then the country will need to hold a new presidential election, and that could all take months. I think the longer term question which is being debated here in South Korea is does the country's political system need to be overhauled? And those who argue that it does say that the president just has too much power. He gets to appoint the prime minister and the justices. There aren't enough checks and balances. And the result we're seeing now is a showdown between the executive and legislative branches that is just consuming all the government's bandwidth.

[Sarah McCammon]

That's NPR international correspondent Anthony Kuhn. Thanks so much, Anthony.

[Anthony Kuhn]

You're welcome, Sarah.

[Sarah McCammon]

Israel launched its largest and most aggressive attack so far against the Iran supported Houthis in Yemen on Thursday. The Israeli airstrikes hit the rebel controlled capital's international airport, damaging the Runway and control tower. At least six people died and dozens were injured in multiple strikes, according to Yemen's state run news agency. For more on the escalation of fighting, we go now to NPR international correspondent Carrie Khan in Tel Aviv. Hi, Kerry.

[Kerry Khan]

Hi, Sarah.

[Sarah McCammon]

So catch us up here. Tell us about these attacks on Yemen's capital, Sana'a. What were the targets?

[Kerry Khan]

Israel says it hit military targets. It sent 25 fighter jets. They traveled more than 1200 miles to Yemen. They are saying the airport was hit because it is used by Iranians who back the Houthi rebels to smuggle weapons into the country and used by senior Iranian officials to get into Yemen. Israel also targeted major power stations. The head of the World Health Organization was actually in the airport waiting to board a flight at the time of the attack and says he was just meters away from where the strike hit right after the attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such strikes will continue to, quote, cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil and continue until we complete the job, which he added, quote, we are only just starting.

[Sarah McCammon]

Now, Israel says this attack was in retaliation for missiles being fired from Yemen. When did this all start?

[Kerry Khan]

It's been going on for months since the war in Gaza began. The Houthis say they won't stop until Israel withdraws from Gaza, where it is fighting Hamas. They also have been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea. That's important. It's a large conduit for international commerce. This week, though, we just saw an escalation of missiles fired from Yemen. Air sirens went off just this morning at 3:30am that missile was intercepted by Israel's air defense system. But one last Saturday actually made it through and landed in Tel Aviv not far from where I am, injuring dozens. Netanyahu has been threatening to take decisive action against the Houthis for days. And here he is on Wednesday. He says Here, the Houthis too will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and the Assad regime and others have learned. He listed off the recent military actions, he says, that have brought down these Iranian backed groups. He says that the Houthis will also be taken down and quote, even if it takes time, he says this lesson will be understood across the Middle east. And that's concerning many of an escalation of hostilities here in the region.

[Sarah McCammon]

Well, as Netanyahu alluded to, Israel has been weakening its enemies on multiple fronts, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, both also supported by Iran. What are you hearing about the Houthis capabilities, Kerry?

[Kerry Khan]

Interestingly, I was listening to a former intelligence officer and he was saying that Israel's behind in its intelligence on the Houthis in Yemen. Yemen just wasn't their main focus for the last 20 years. Iran and Hezbollah were. And Yemen and the Houthis are a different enemy for Israel. Yemen is far away and it will require the assistance of other militaries, primarily the US to fight the Houthis. The US does have a major battle group in the Red Sea at this time, actually. And Israel is fighting wars on multiple fronts now. It's in Gaza, it's in Lebanon, it's in Syria, continuing raids in the occupied territories. It is stretched. And Hezbollah said it wouldn't stop attacking Israel until the Gaza war ends, the same as the Houthis are saying. But it actually did. There's a ceasefire now between Israel and Lebanon. The Houthi said the same exact thing, but for now, they are not backing down.

[Sarah McCammon]

That's NPR international correspondent Kerry Conn. Thanks, Kerry.

[Kerry Khan]

You're welcome.

[Sarah McCammon]

Georgia straddles Europe and Asia, and it has an important and complicated relationship with neighboring Russia. This weekend, the country is set to swear in a new president and he is a vocal critic of the West. This follows protests that broke out in the capital, Tbilisi, last month after the government decided to suspend talks to join the European Union. Meanwhile, Georgia's incumbent president has refused to stand down following October's disputed election. Joining me now is reporter Robin Forrest Deer Walker, who's been following the protests. Thanks for joining us.

[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

Thank you.

[Sarah McCammon]

So who is the newly elected president, and why is this looking like a potential showdown between Georgia's opposition and the government?

[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

So Mikhail Kavilashvili is 53 years old. He's a former soccer player turned politician for the Georgian Dream Party, that's the governing party. And he's played an important role in the government's shift away from the West. He's set to be inaugurated on Sunday. But the demonstrators who've been protesting after the government's U turn on the EU really dislike Kavilashvili. He's known for criticizing the west, in particular US Support for Georgian democracy. The incumbent President, Salome Zorobishvili, refuses to step down. She's positioned herself as the last defender of Georgian democracy because she believes the government is taking Georgia off its constitutionally mandated pro European path. So tensions are rising. With two presidents claiming legitimacy, and with the prime minister threatening to arrest Zurobishvili, there's a real risk of confrontation.

[Sarah McCammon]

How did Georgia get to where it is now? And what is Russia's role here?

[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

Well, there was this simmering anger over parliamentary elections in October. Observers questioned their fairness. But the nationwide protests really ignited when the government announced it was suspending talks on EU membership at the end of November. Polls consistently show strong public support for Georgia joining the eu. And the demonstrators want new elections. And over the last month, they've become more organized, and overall, they've been largely peaceful. But police have arrested more than 500 people. And there's been clear evidence of police brutality, which has led the US and some European states to sanction senior officials. President Zurobishvili has openly accused the Kremlin of undermining Georgian sovereignty. She points to Russia's opposition to Georgia's EU and NATO aspirations. The Kremlin has openly praised the Georgian government for introducing controversial legislation that curtails civil liberties. And crucially, the governing party, Georgian Dream, is led by a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia. Critics say that means President Vladimir Putin has significant leverage over him now.

[Sarah McCammon]

The Georgian Dream Party. This is Georgia's governing party. They say they're pro European still, though, right? I mean, what happens next here?

[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

So the government claims it's going to revisit the question of European membership in 2028. And meanwhile, officials are hoping for a reset in relations with the US under the Trump administration. They say they share his values, but we don't know Trump's stance on Georgia yet. Last month in Paris, President Zurobishvili made a point of introducing herself to Trump, highlighting Georgia's role in the broader Russian conflict and Georgia's European aspirations. And many Georgians take heart that a number of Republicans are strong advocates for Georgian democracy. Some of them have warned that a Trump administration could respond harshly to any potential crackdown after December 29th.

[Sarah McCammon]

That's reporter Robin Forrestier Walker, who's been following the protests in Tbilisi, Georgia. Thanks so much for being here.

[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

Thank you.

[Sarah McCammon]

And that's up first for Friday, December 27th. I'm Sarah McCammon. And don't forget, up first airs on the weekend, too. Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon have the news. It'll be here in this feed or wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode of up first was edited by Andrew Sussman, Nick Spicer, Peter Granitz, Lisa Thompson and Alice Wolffley. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Milton Gavada. We get engineering support from Nisha Hynes, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Our executive producer is Kelly Dickens. Join us again tomorrow.

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[Robin Forrest Deer Walker]

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[Anthony Kuhn]

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