U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit South Korea for talks next week, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, as the country faces political turmoil with its president resisting arrest, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).
South Korea, a key security ally of Washington, is currently in crisis due to a failed military law decree by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3. Blinken is scheduled to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, on Monday.
The two are expected to discuss the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, North Korea issues, and regional and global challenges, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Investigators who had been looking into Yoon’s declaration about the military law attempted to carry out an arrest warrant for him on Friday, but were blocked by presidential security guards. The warrant expires on January 6, the same day Blinken is scheduled to meet Cho, writes The Guardian, as reported by Gazeta Express.
Last month, Washington stated it would speak “openly” with South Korea about protecting democracy.
“South Korea’s democracy is strong and resilient, and we will continue to speak publicly and engage privately with our South Korean counterparts to emphasize the importance of continuing this,” said U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
