Police officers block protesters outside the National Assembly after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea, December 4, 2024. Yonhap via REUTERS
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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."
(Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Ismail Shakil; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
