Seoul, Jan 5 (NationPress) A group of civic organizations gathered on Monday, voicing their opposition to the US actions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro near the US Embassy in Seoul. The demonstrators criticized US President Donald Trump following a military operation.

The protest, which included 38 civic groups, emerged after Trump declared on Saturday that Maduro and his spouse were apprehended during a military action in Caracas, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

Natasha Faria Fernandez, the acting Venezuelan Ambassador to South Korea, took part in the demonstration, demanding Maduro's swift release and accusing the US of breaching the UN Charter.

Kwon Young-kook, leader of the left-leaning Justice Party, urged the South Korean government to oppose what he termed as the US invasion of the South American country during the rally.

On Sunday, South Korea's foreign ministry called for all parties involved in the Venezuelan crisis to work towards reducing regional tensions.

A separate rally, featuring an umbrella group of 267 civic organizations, also took place near the embassy, where participants denounced the US military operation.

The far-left People's Democracy Party plans to submit a letter requesting Maduro's release to the US Embassy later today.

Concurrently, the Trump administration attempted to mitigate backlash regarding its Venezuelan operation, asserting that Maduro's arrest was a precisely focused law-enforcement measure rather than the initiation of a new conflict or military occupation.

In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed claims that the United States is currently at war with Venezuela, stating, “There’s not a war.” He added that the US is engaged in combat against drug trafficking organizations, not against Venezuela itself.

Rubio maintained that the operation was executed under US legal authority for the arrest of an indicted drug trafficker and did not constitute an invasion. “This was not an invasion,” he reiterated on NBC. “This was a law enforcement operation.”

In a separate discussion on ABC’s This Week, Rubio explained that US forces were only briefly on the ground to carry out the arrest before withdrawing, emphasizing the reliance on court orders and sanctions enforcement rather than congressional authorization for military action.

Rubio indicated that the administration is now focused on maintaining pressure through sanctions and maritime enforcement, stating on CBS’s Face the Nation that the US is implementing an oil “quarantine” by seizing sanctioned shipments through court orders.

“That leverage remains,” Rubio mentioned to CBS News, confirming that pressure will persist until changes align with US interests and benefit Venezuelans.

Rubio countered repeated inquiries about who governs Venezuela. He stated that Washington is not managing the nation but influencing outcomes through policy measures.

“What we are running is policy,” he declared, referencing efforts to combat drug trafficking, dismantle gangs, and eliminate foreign militant groups.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz echoed this perspective on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures. He stated that the operation was justified under international law and characterized it as an act of self-defense.

“This is our hemisphere,” Waltz asserted on Fox News. “We will not allow it to become a base of operation for adversaries.”

Waltz referred to alleged connections between Maduro and China, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah, arguing that decisive action was essential to safeguard US security.

Rubio indicated that the administration is not dismissing future actions but stressed that no US troops are currently stationed in Venezuela. “We don’t have US forces on the ground,” he confirmed to NBC.

Addressing inquiries regarding elections and political transitions, Rubio urged patience. “These things take time,” he mentioned on CBS. “There’s a process.”

The administration announced it would evaluate Venezuela’s forthcoming actions based on their deeds rather than promises, while sustaining pressure until US security concerns are resolved.