US State Department on South Korea Martial Law

Washington says it received no advance warning from South Korean officials ahead of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to declare martial law on Tuesday, an event which has plunged the top U.S.

Ally into crisis. State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel made the comments to reporters during the Agency’s daily Press briefing.

Patel said that the Biden administration was urging the situation to be resolved peacefully and within the rule of law.

He also said that a vote by South Korea’s Parliament would be “consistent” with the law, an apparent reference to parliament’s vote to block Yoon’s decision earlier that day. It is unclear whether the Biden administration had prior intelligence of Yoon’s decision.

Patel said he could not comment on “private” diplomatic discussions.