SEOUL, (TDI): Antony Blinken, the United States’ top diplomat, will visit Seoul next week for talks, according to South Africa’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.
The visit comes at a time when South Korea is grappling with a political crisis, as its impeached president faces the threat of arrest.
South Korea, a key security ally of Washington, has been in turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law decree on December 3.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry confirmed that Blinken will meet with his counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, on Monday to discuss a range of issues, including the South Korea-US alliance, cooperation between South Korea, the US, and Japan, North Korean concerns, and broader regional and global challenges.
The political crisis has intensified with investigators attempting to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon on Friday, only for it to be blocked by security guards at the presidential compound.
The warrant is set to expire on January 6, coinciding with Blinken’s scheduled meeting with Cho.
Also Read: South Korean Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Yoon
The United States has expressed concerns over the situation, with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasizing Washington’s commitment to supporting South Korea’s democracy.
“South Korea’s democracy is robust and resilient, and we will continue to engage with South Korean counterparts both publicly and privately to reinforce its importance,” Sullivan said.
Also Read: Arrest of South Korea’s President Yoon Called Off
While Yoon remains the sitting president, his position is currently suspended pending a constitutional court decision regarding his impeachment.
In the interim, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok has assumed the role of acting president, having been in office for just a week.
