The Pentagon reports that “there are no changes” in the positions of US troops on South Korean soil
The United States Government has assured this Tuesday that South Korea has not notified Washington in advance about the declaration of martial law in the country and has described the events on South Korean soil as “worrying”.
“We view recent events in South Korea with great concern. We are attempting to engage with our counterparts in the Republic of Korea at all levels, both here in the United States and in Seoul,” said deputy US diplomatic spokesman Vedant. Patel, at a press conference.
Patel explained that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been informed about this and has detailed that the Department is following developments on the ground “very closely.” President Joe Biden, visiting Angola, has also been warned about this.
“Our alliance with South Korea is ironclad,” he stressed, adding that Seoul “remains a vital partner” in the Indo-Pacific and that they hope that “any political dispute” will be resolved “peacefully” and “in accordance with the rule of law”.
“Each country has its own rules, laws and procedures (…) We have the hope and expectation that that particular country will respect the laws and regulations,” he stressed when asked about Parliament’s decision to reject martial law. .
Shortly before, the United States ambassador to the country, Philip Goldberg, asked nationals to stay informed about the situation in the country. “The United States Embassy and the State Department are closely following the recent declaration of martial law,” he said on the social network X.
“THERE ARE NO CHANGES” IN THE US TROOPS
For his part, the Pentagon spokesman, General Patrick Ryder, stated at a press conference that “there are no changes” in the troops that the United States has in South Korea and has detailed that the Secretary of the Department of Defense, Lloyd Austin , monitors the evolution of the situation in the region.
The United States has an important military base located in the town of Pyeongtaek, made up of nearly 41,000 people, including civilian and military personnel. Any changes in South Korea could affect Washington both geopolitically and economically.
Just days after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol took office in 2022, Biden visited Seoul. The US president also received his counterpart in August 2023 for a trilateral summit at Camp David, outside Washington DC, together with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida.