South Korea martial law turmoil sparks international backlash

4/12/2024 16:15

        South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who vowed to make his country a "global pivotal state", faced immediate international diplomatic fallout on Wednesday after his botched attempt to impose martial law.
        
        Yoon declared martial law in a live TV address late on Tuesday night, only to reverse course six hours later after parliament defied police and special forces cordons to vote to block the move.
        
        Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who was due to hold a summit with Yoon this week, will skip the scheduled visit, his spokesperson said on Wednesday.
        
        "Given the recent developments, we have decided to postpone the visit," the spokesperson said in a statement.
        
        The United States, South Korea's main ally, indefinitely postponed meetings of the Nuclear Consultative Group and related tabletop military exercises, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
        
        The NCG is a signature Yoon effort aimed at having South Korea play a greater role in allied planning for potential nuclear war on the peninsula.
        
        The U.S. and South Korean militaries are "in contact", the Pentagon said on Tuesday, adding there was no request for assistance from Seoul amid the unfolding events.