Why political stability in South Korea is critical for US and its military

The United States, a close ally of South Korea, welcomed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision on Wednesday to lift martial law, following a dramatic series of events. The move came after South Korean lawmakers swiftly blocked the president’s emergency declaration in a tense vote, plunging the nation into its worst political crisis since the 1980s.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, “The United States has been closely monitoring the situation in the Republic of Korea over the past 24 hours. We welcome President Yoon’s announcement to revoke the martial law order in line with the ROK Constitution, following the National Assembly’s unanimous decision to reject it.” He added, “We hope political disagreements will continue to be resolved peacefully and within the framework of the law. The United States stands firmly with the Korean people and values the U.S.-ROK alliance built on democracy and the rule of law.”