U.S. Monitors South Korea’s Political Turmoil with Alarm.

The United States is observing the rapidly evolving political turmoil in South Korea with “grave concern” after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law late Tuesday. Citing threats from North Korea’s communist forces and alleged anti-state activities, Yoon’s announcement shocked both his nation and international observers.

However, the martial law was swiftly overturned as South Korea's parliament voted against it just hours later. Protests outside the National Assembly further amplified pressure, leading Yoon to lift the emergency measures early Wednesday.

U.S. officials have since been in active discussions with their South Korean counterparts to gather information and assess the situation. “We were not notified of President Yoon’s announcement in advance,” stated Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, during a press briefing. He added that the U.S. has not identified any specific threat from North Korea within the past 24 hours.

In light of the unrest, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul canceled routine consular appointments for Wednesday and advised American citizens in South Korea to stay updated via local news, avoid demonstrations, and exercise caution near protests.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed hope that the political crisis in South Korea would be resolved peacefully and within the framework of the law. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and senior U.S. officials, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been briefed on the developments.

Biden, currently on his first visit to Africa, received updates while traveling to his hotel in Angola’s capital, Luanda. At the Pentagon, Major General Patrick Ryder assured reporters that the U.S. military presence in South Korea, comprising approximately 28,500 troops, remains unaffected by the martial law declaration. He also confirmed ongoing communication between the U.S. and South Korean militaries, with no current requests for assistance from Seoul.

The unfolding crisis has prompted heightened vigilance, with U.S. officials continuing to track developments closely.