Regarding the political chaos in Korea after the declaration of martial law on December 3, the U.S. government repeatedly confirmed its support for the Korean government, saying, “We note and evaluate Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok’s focus on stabilizing the state.” U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who made his last visit to Korea before leaving office on the 5th, said in an interview with Britain’s Financial Times (FT) on the 3rd (local time) that “rebuilding the collapsed alliance is the greatest achievement of the Joe Biden administration.” He plans to meet with Acting President Choi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol on the 6th to discuss the ROK-US alliance and North Korea issues.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a briefing on the 3rd, “We look forward to the Korean government, National Assembly, and people working together to move forward stably,” and “to advance the values and common interests that both countries share.” “We are committed to working closely with the Korean government, including the Acting President,” he said. He said, “I expect the Korean government to move forward by complying with the procedures specified in the Korean Constitution,” and “We will keep communication channels open at all levels.” He continued, “Our commitment to the alliance is also ironclad. “I know we use this word often, but I mean it when I use it in relation to Korea,” he emphasized.
Although Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell unusually strongly criticized the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Seok-yeol, saying it was a “badly misjudged,” the United States has consistently expressed its support for Korea since the impeachment bill was passed. The two countries are gradually resuming high-level face-to-face contact at a higher level.
However, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has not yet released an official position on the situation in Korea. A diplomatic source said, “I think he is trying to carefully monitor the situation in Korea for now as he has to keep in mind the various negotiation tables he will sit across from Korea after taking office.”
Meanwhile, in an FT interview, Secretary Blinken mentioned that four Indo-Pacific countries, including South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, were invited to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, and that the Atlantic regional bloc is criticizing China with one voice, saying, “It was something that was unimaginable before,” he said.
Reporter Lee Se-hyung [email protected]
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