The Biden administration is in contact with the South Korean government and monitoring the situation closely, a White House spokesperson said on Tuesday (3), after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in the country.
Philip Goldberg, US ambassador to South Korea, highlighted that the US diplomatic mission and State Department “are closely following President Yoon’s recent declaration of martial law”.
Goldberg encouraged people to “monitor local news sources for updates as the situation progresses” and to sign up for alerts from the State Department.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. A U.S. military command spokesman did not respond to multiple phone calls.
Suk Yeol, decreed the implementation of martial law in an unannounced speech broadcast live on YTN television this Tuesday morning.
Yoon said he had no choice but to adopt the measure in order to safeguard the free and constitutional order, saying opposition parties had taken the parliamentary process hostage to throw the country into a crisis.
He also justified the decision as essential to protect the freedoms and security of the people, guarantee the country’s sustainability and pass on a stable nation to future generations.
“I declare martial law to protect the free Republic of Korea from the threat of North Korean communist forces, to eradicate the despicable North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our people, and to protect the constitutional order free”, said the president.
He cited a motion this week from the Democratic Party, which has a majority in Parliament, which aimed to launch impeachment against South Korea’s top prosecutors. The party also rejected a government budget proposal.
Still, it did not say what specific measures would be taken.
Yoon called the opposition’s actions “clear anti-state behavior aimed at inciting rebellion.” He further stated that these acts “paralyzed the affairs of the state and turned the National Assembly into a den of criminals.”
Parliament entrance is blocked, press reports
The speaker of the South Korean Parliament is heading to the Legislative House and plans to convene a session, according to local broadcaster YTN TV.
Yonhap news agency reported that the entrance to Parliament is blocked and lawmakers are unable to enter.
Yoon accused the opposition of turning the nation into a “drug paradise” and creating a state of disorder detrimental to public safety and livelihood.
He also alleged that the Democratic Party was trying to overthrow the liberal democratic system, declaring: “The National Assembly has become a monster that undermines liberal democracy, and the nation is in a precarious state, teetering on the brink of collapse.”
“We will eliminate anti-state forces and restore the country to normalcy as quickly as possible,” declared the president.
While acknowledging that martial law may cause some inconveniences, Yoon pledged efforts to minimize its impact on the public.
This content was originally published in USA says it is in contact with South Korea to “monitor the situation” on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
