South Korean leader's sudden martial law move leads to global diplomatic freeze
South Korean Presidentʼs overnight martial-law attempt backfired causing international partners to cancel meetings. Swedish PM‚ US officials and Japanese delegates dropped planned visits after the six-hour crisis
In a sudden turn-of-events Yoon Suk Yeol made a late-night TV announcement about martial law which lasted just 6 hrs‚ before parliament blocked it (despite heavy security presence at the building)
The short-lived crisis triggered a chain of cancelled meetings: Swedish PM cancelled his visit; US put off Nuclear group talks‚ and Japanese ex-PM Yoshihide Sugaʼs team dropped their mid-december trip to Seoul
About 28‚500 US soldiers stay in South-Korea but Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said the situation dont affect troops much — though US-Korea military teams keep in touch. The White House showed its displeasure: they werent told about the martial law plan beforehand
Japan watches the situation closely: Shigeru Ishiba said Tokyo has “grave interest“ in whats happening; while policy expert Duyeon Kim thinks Yoons image as democracy leader is damaged. The crisis also puts question mark on next weeks planned meet with US defense chief
- US-Korea nuclear planning talks suspended
- Swedish summit cancelled
- Japanese lawmakers visit dropped
- US defense chiefs visit uncertain
The whole thing affects Yoons big plan to make South-Korea a world-power player: his Nuclear Group idea (meant to give Seoul more say in nuclear defense planning) is now on-hold
