S. Korea’s Martial Law Saga Gives U.S. Moment of Embarrassment

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law appeared to have taken the United States aback, pushing its officials to ensure the alliance with the long-trusted Asian ally is “ironclad” while voicing hope for a “peaceful” resolution.

After Yoon made the surprise declaration of emergency martial law Tuesday night (Korea time), Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the U.S. was watching the development with “grave concern,” while a White House official noted that Washington is “seriously concerned.”

The expression of concern came as the administration of President Joe Biden has touted progress in the broadening and deepening of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and of trilateral cooperation with Japan as a key foreign policy feat during his term that ends next month.

Shortly after Yoon’s Cabinet ended the enforcement of martial law, a U.S. National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said Washington is “relieved” but emphasized the importance of democracy as a core value that binds the two allies together.

“We are relieved President Yoon has reversed course on his concerning declaration of martial law and respected the ROK National Assembly’s vote to end it,” the NSC spokesperson said in a statement, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

“Democracy is at the foundation of the U.S.-ROK alliance, and we will continue to monitor the situation,” the official added.

The mention of democracy hinted that Washington was concerned about the potential ramifications of martial law on South Korea’s vibrant democracy as reports came out of martial law forces being mobilized around the National Assembly, a symbol of the nation’s democracy.

In a separate statement on the lifting of martial law, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. continues to expect “political disagreements to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”

“We reaffirm our support for the people of Korea and the U.S.-ROK alliance based on shared principles of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

Washington’s show of concern over the developments in Seoul was accompanied by its reaffirmation of the “ironclad” alliance and the expression of its hope that any “political” disputes in South Korea will be put to an end in a peaceful manner.

“Let me also just mention that our alliance with the Republic of Korea is ironclad, and we’re fully committed to that,” Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, told a press briefing.

“Ultimately, here our hope is, and every hope and expectation is that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law,” he added.

But when asked if Washington sees the martial law declaration as being of a political nature, he refused to characterize it.

“It is not for us to characterize,” he said.

“What we are attempting to do is continue to gather the facts and continue to gather the circumstances of what’s happening on the ground, engage appropriately with our counterparts both here in the United States and in Seoul, and then monitor and make appropriate adjustments if needed as it relates to our personnel and our citizens.”

As the martial law issue dominated the State Department’s press briefing, it was also a key topic at the Pentagon press briefing.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no force posture change in the U.S. Forces Korea in the wake of the martial law declaration.

“Of course, we’re closely monitoring the situation, but I’m not aware of any force posture changes,” he told a press briefing.

Yoon made the martial law declaration, accusing the nation’s opposition of paralyzing government functions with “anti-state” activities. Around six hours later, his Cabinet was convened to end the saga.

(Yonhap)