US sharply criticises South Korea’s Yoon over ‘illegitimate’ martial law attempt
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s remarks also cast doubt on Yoon’s claims of threats from North Korea and anti-state forces
Campbell’s observation comes at a particularly fraught time for Yoon, who has sought to deflect blame to the opposition, accusing them of fostering a “parliamentary dictatorship” to sidestep impeachment charges of insurrection.
He said the events in South Korea had been “deeply unpredictable and unlikely”.
“I think President Yoon badly misjudged. And I think the memory of previous experiences of martial law have a deep and negative resonance in South Korea,” Campbell said at the Aspen Strategy Forum in Washington.
The fact that both political sides in South Korea could agree the step was “deeply problematic” despite deep political polarisation and division in the country was a reassuring tribute to the strength of democracy in the country, he added.
