The government will take swift measures to adhere with the Constitutional Court's decision to disband a pro-North Korean political party, the prime minister said Friday.



The court delivered the ruling earlier in the day, saying the principles and activities of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) violated the "basic democratic order" of South Korea, which remains technically at war with North Korea.



The ruling, which went into effect immediately, came 13 months after the government filed a petition with the court to disband the party over allegations some of its members, including Rep. Lee Seok-ki, plotted to overthrow the government in the event of an actual war with the North.



"The government respects the decision of the Constitutional Court," Prime Minister Chung Hong-won said in a national address at the main government complex in Seoul. "Through the decision of the Constitutional Court, it has become clear that the Unified Progressive Party tried to overthrow the liberal democratic system through violence and ultimately realize the North Korean form of socialism.



"The government, in line with the decision to disband the Unified Progressive Party, will smoothly carry out the next steps as prescribed by relevant laws."



Chung also asked all individuals and parties that have opposed the UPP's disbandment to respect and solemnly accept the court ruling.



The ruling "must become an opportunity for our society to become one on the foundation of the Republic of Korea's constitutional order and for the liberal democratic basic order to become further strengthened," he said. (Yonhap)