US Expresses “Grave Concern” Over South Korea, Calls For Rule Of Law

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Tuesday the United States was
watching events in U.S. ally South Korea with “grave concern” and had every hope and expectation that any political disputes would be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.

Campbell spoke at an event at the U.S. State Department after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in a surprise late-night TV address earlier on Tuesday, slamming domestic political opponents and sending shockwaves through the country and beyond.

Troops were seen trying to enter the South Korean parliament on Wednesday after Yoon’s announcement.

“We are watching the recent developments in the ROK with grave concern,” Campbell said, using the acronym for Republic of Korea. “We’re seeking to engage our (South Korean) counterparts at every level, both here and in Seoul.”

Campbell said U.S. President Joe Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were being kept appraised of the situation as it developed. He stressed that the U.S. alliance with South Korea was “ironclad”
and added:

“We stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty. I also want to just underscore that we have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”

Reports say the trigger for President Yoon’s action may have been the deadlock over next year’s budget. Opposition MPs who have a majority in the 300-seat parliament, recently approved a down-sized budget, which upset the president.

“Our national assembly has become a haven for criminals, a den of legislative dictatorship that seeks to paralyse the judicial and administrative systems and overturn our liberal democratic order.

He complained that budgets being slashed for tackling drug-related crimes would turn the country into a haven for drugs and endanger public safety.

With Reuters inputs