Blinken expected in South Korea in the middle of the political crisis in the Asian country – Observer

The head of North American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, is expected at South Korea on Monday, in the midst of a political crisis in the Asian country, Washington and Seoul announced.

The visit is part of a tour, probably the last, that will also take Blinken to Japan and Franceaccording to a statement from the US State Department released on Friday.

In South Korea, the note also reads, Blinken intends to “reaffirm the unbreakable alliance” between the two countries and discuss ways to “strengthen fundamental work to promote a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”.

Blinken will be welcomed by his South Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, to discuss “the alliance between South Korea and the United States, cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan, issues related to North Korea and regional and global challenges,” the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared on Friday.

South Korea is a crucial ally of Washington in the region, but the country has been plunged into political chaos since President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law on December 3. Yoon was removed by parliament on December 14 and is awaiting a decision from the Constitutional Court by June on reinstatement or permanent dismissal.

Antony Blinken’s visit coincides with the expiration of the arrest warrant issued by the courts to force the deposed president to give testimony. Investigators attempted to serve the arrest warrant at the presidential residence on Friday, but had to retreat after several hours of confrontation with Yoon’s security.

The declaration of martial law on December 3 caught the United States by surprise. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US government learned of what happened on television and that these events caused “deep concern” in Washington.

After South Korea, Blinken will visit Japanto “discuss the enormous progress” recorded in the strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the US State Department. The visit was announced on the day that US President Joe Biden decided to block the purchase of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel for reasons of national security and to ensure that “the United States has a strong national steel industry”.

On Wednesday, Blinken travels to France, where he is expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the crises in the Middle East, according to the State Department statement.