On Monday, the U.S. State Department addressed the political turmoil in South Korea caused by the declaration of martial law. They emphasized that all legal and political processes should adhere to the rule of law. They affirmed their commitment to maintaining open lines of communication with all relevant parties in Korea.
During the briefing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller remarked, “What we want to see and what we have been pleased to see over the past few days is the democratic resilience of the Republic of Korea during a period of testing and uncertainty.” He emphasized that the U.S.-South Korea alliance is strong, noting a full commitment to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. Miller added that the U.S. stands in solidarity with the South Korean people, expressing hope that political differences would be resolved peacefully and by the rule of law.
When asked about President Joe Biden’s dialogue partner in South Korea, the spokesperson confirmed, “President Yoon is the President of Korea.” However, he added that the political processes in Korea would naturally unfold under Korean laws and the constitution. He noted that they would maintain open lines of communication with all relevant parties in Korea, leaving room for further developments.
Regarding the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group meeting, initially scheduled for December 4th and 5th in Washington but indefinitely postponed following the martial law declaration, Miller stated, “I don’t have anything to say with regards to the rescheduling of that meeting.” He also refrained from commenting on any additional communication plans between U.S. and South Korean leaders, saying, “It’s a matter for the White House to do.”
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