South Korea's top court cast doubt on Thursday on frontrunner Lee Jae-myung's eligibility to run for the presidency, while the resignations of the prime minister and finance minister shook the interim government in place since December's martial law.

Beijing’s rising assertiveness in an area both claim as their EEZ will loom large as the next South Korean government formulates its China policy.

Democratic Party nominee Lee Jae-myung will be retried on electoral violation charges, while the acting president has resigned and is expected to enter the race.