In a historic ruling Friday, South Korea¡¯s Constitutional Court unanimously upheld President Yoon Suk Yeol¡¯s impeachment, formally removing him from office in an 8-0 vote over his failed attempt to institute martial law and setting the stage for a snap election within 60 days.

The move, while deepening a divide in South Korea between conservative and progressive voters, could also have broad implications for relations with neighboring Japan.

Yoon ¡°failed in his duty to protect the constitution and seriously betrayed the trust of the Korean people, who are the sovereign members of the democratic republic,¡± acting court President Moon Hyung-bae said after reading off a long list of legal and constitutional violations by Yoon, including subverting the neutrality of the military and the separation of powers.