On January 6, 2025, US Secretary of State Blinken visited Seoul and reiterated confidence in this Asian ally’s ability to deal with political turmoil. He emphasized the importance of the US-South Korea alliance, considering it as the cornerstone for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Following a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Blinken expressed “serious concerns” to Seoul over some actions taken during President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of a state of emergency.
Blinken stressed that the subsequent developments reflected South Korea as a successful democratic nation, stating, “The responses we have seen, and the responses we expect to continue to see, are peaceful and fully in line with the constitution and the rule of law.”
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also stated on Monday, “South Korea’s democracy is strong and resilient, and we will continue to speak out publicly and engage privately with South Korean counterparts to uphold the importance of democracy.”
Earlier on Monday, Blinken also met with Acting President Choi Sang-mook, describing the US-South Korea alliance as the “cornerstone of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
On December 3 last year, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol briefly declared a state of emergency, then faced impeachment and a criminal investigation.
Due to multiple failures to appear for questioning, the Korean High Prosecutors’ Office applied for an arrest warrant to the Seoul Western District Court, which was granted on December 31. This arrest warrant is set to expire at midnight on January 6.
Last Friday, investigators briefly entered the presidential residence hoping to execute the arrest warrant, but they were obstructed by the president’s guards. These guards formed a human barrier to prevent them from approaching Yoon Suk-yeol.
This marked the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history that an incumbent president has faced an arrest warrant.
On Sunday, the Prosecutors’ Office sent a document to the National Investigation Headquarters of the Police Department, requesting them to take over the execution of the arrest warrant. However, according to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Police Department stated earlier on Monday that there were legal issues with the document sent by the Prosecutors’ Office, effectively rejecting their request.
The Prosecutors’ Office stated they plan to apply for an extension of the arrest warrant later on Monday. Yoon Suk-yeol’s legal team argues that under South Korean law, the Prosecutors’ Office does not have the authority to investigate cases involving charges of insurrection.
Apart from concerns about the political situation in South Korea, Blinken and South Korean officials also discussed the US-South Korea alliance, cooperation between the US, Japan, and South Korea, the North Korean issue, as well as regional and global challenges.
At the press conference, Blinken stated that reliable intelligence available to the US indicated that Russia intended to transfer high-end space and satellite technology to North Korea.
Blinken mentioned that Russia’s ability to continue attacks on Ukraine was not just due to the munitions and personnel provided by North Korea, but also due to support from the military-civilian dual-use technology from the Chinese authorities.
He noted that South Korea played a significant role in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Deepening cooperation with NATO by South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand is crucial in addressing global security issues.
Chung Eui-yong stated that both sides had in-depth exchanges on issues related to the North Korean nuclear issue, cooperation between North Korea and Russia, among others. The two sides strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile on Monday and further discussed the potential responses to any provocations.
On January 6, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the military had detected a flying object believed to be an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) launched towards the eastern sea near Pyongyang at noon.
Chung Eui-yong also emphasized that both sides reaffirmed the unbreakable bond of the South Korea-US alliance, and even after the inauguration of former US President Trump, Korea and the US will continue to cooperate closely.