US Commends the Strength of Democracy and Rule of Law in South Korea
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Washington, Dec 14 (NationPress) The United States values the strength of democracy and the rule of law in South Korea, asserting that its alliance with the Asian nation remains 'ironclad.' A White House official commented on the situation after the National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law attempt.
South Korea's legislature has impeached Yoon, effectively suspending him from his responsibilities until the Constitutional Court determines whether to reinstate him or remove him from office. In the meantime, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has stepped in as the acting president.
"We value the strength of democracy and the rule of law in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Our alliance is unwavering, and the United States is dedicated to the peace and security of the Korean peninsula," stated a spokesperson from the National Security Council. ROK refers to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
"The American populace will continue to stand in solidarity with the citizens of the Republic of Korea," the official continued, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier on the same day, South Korea's National Assembly voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his mismanaged martial law declaration, suspending him from his responsibilities until the Constitutional Court makes a ruling, while citizens celebrated the impeachment.
The impeachment motion against Yoon was approved with a count of 204-85, including three abstentions and eight invalid ballots, after all 300 Assembly members cast their votes.
This motion was passed just 11 days after Yoon's declaration of martial law, an announcement that took the nation by surprise and triggered outrage, as troops surrounded the National Assembly complex in a seemingly desperate attempt to prevent lawmakers from overturning the decree.
The martial law order was rescinded within six hours after the Assembly voted against it, leading to investigations by the police, the prosecution, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials into whether Yoon orchestrated an insurrection. He is currently prohibited from leaving the country.
