U.S. Officials Slam South Korea’s President for ‘Badly Misjudged’ Martial Law Declaration

The U.S. government has expressed significant concerns over South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law. On Wednesday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell called Yoon’s decision to impose and later lift martial law “deeply problematic and illegitimate.”

Campbell noted that it appears Yoon had “badly misjudged” the situation. Later, at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington, D.C., an event that gathers experts in diplomacy and security, Campbell spoke about the uncertain political future in South Korea. He highlighted the expectation of significant political developments amidst a series of challenging situations for South Korea in the coming months. He stressed the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.-South Korea alliance and showing unwavering support for South Korea. Campbell emphasized that South Korea must build the confidence to address these issues through its own processes and methods.

Campbell mentioned that he has been closely monitoring the situation over the past few days and has engaged in numerous discussions with counterparts in South Korea. He expressed reassurance in the strength and resilience demonstrated by South Korea’s democratic institutions.

Despite the crisis, Campbell revealed that the U.S. government first learned about Yoon’s martial law declaration through television broadcasts, just like the rest of the world.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also commented on the situation. He commended the functioning of South Korea’s democratic processes during the imposition and subsequent lifting of martial law and reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting the strengthening of South Korea’s democracy.

“South Korea’s democracy is robust and resilient, and we’re going to continue to speak out publicly and engage privately with South Korean counterparts to reinforce the importance of that continuing,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan further clarified that there had been no prior discussions with the South Korean government regarding the declaration of martial law. He explained that, like other countries, the United States learned about the announcement through television broadcasts.

The U.S. government had previously expressed concern over the martial law situation in South Korea, with special emphasis on the significant number of U.S. military personnel and citizens residing in the country. Given this, Washington’s concerns were more pointed than those of other nations.

This statement indicates that should a similar situation arise again, the U.S. government will continue to raise objections and express its concerns.