(VOVWORLD) - Countries have expressed concerns over South Korea’s political unrest after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared then revoked martial law Tuesday night.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that Tokyo was monitoring the situation in South Korea with "exceptional and serious concerns". Ishiba also said Tokyo was unaware of any information suggesting that its interests have been affected as a result of this development.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the US was in contact with the South Korean government regarding the situation, adding that there was no effect on the 28,500 American service members based in South Korea. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters during a briefing that they “were not notified of President Yoon's announcement in advance." The US has called for political disagreements in South Korea “to be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law.”
He said, "We are watching recent developments in the RoK with grave concerns. We are seeking to engage with our Republic of Korea counterpart at every levels both here in the United States and Seoul. The Secretary has been briefed and we are keeping him appraised of the development as well as monitoring closely what's happening in the ground and ultimately here."
China, the UK, and Australia have also voiced concern about the situation in South Korea.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has postponed his scheduled visit to South Korea this week, his spokesperson said on Wednesday. Several countries have advised their citizens to exercise caution if they are currently in South Korea or planning to travel there.
Also on Wednesday, the US Embassy in South Korea issued a statement calling for “US citizens to anticipate potential disruptions” as “the situation remains fluid” following President Yoon’s announcement to lift the martial law declaration.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Myung-soo has ordered the military to maintain firm readiness posture against potential North Korean threats after the National Assembly voted to reject President Yoon's declaration of martial law.