South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye and suspend her powers over a corruption scandal.
The constitutional court will now have to decide whether to uphold the motion and remove the president from office, or reject it and reinstate her.
Ms Park is accused of acting as a criminal accomplice for her friend Choi Soon-sil, who has been indicted on criminal charges including extortion and abuse of official power.
Ms Choi is accused of coercing more than $60m (£49m) from businesses and meddling in state affairs.
The chance of provocation from North Korea is high after the impeachment vote, said prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, now also the country's acting president.
He has told the defence minister the military must be prepared.
Massive protests have taken place in the capital Seoul every Saturday for the past six weeks to call for Park's resignation.
Opinion polls show overwhelming support for her to go, and the parliamentary vote also left no doubt and was passed 234 to 56.
Under the South Korean constitution, prosecutors cannot indict the president on criminal charges - except insurrection or treason - while they are still in office.
Park has previously denied any wrongdoing, but apologised to the nation.
She has not yet publicly commented on the impeachment vote, but will meet with cabinet ministers later
The five-year term of the country's first female leader was due to end in February 2018.
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