Sweden and US delay Seoul visits amid martial law tensions
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson postponed his visit to Seoul. This follows the announcement and subsequent lifting of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The United States made a similar decision.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson decided to postpone his visit to Seoul. Kristersson's decision was a result of the announcement and subsequent lifting of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. This information was reported by the Yonhap news agency.
The "Korean Times" reported that President Yoon canceled his participation in events scheduled for Wednesday, and his office has not presented a new schedule yet.
Given the recent developments, we have decided to postpone the visit. We have been in contact with South Korea this morning, and will now work together to find a new time for the visit in the future — stated the Swedish prime minister's spokesperson in a statement quoted by the CNN.
Not only is the Swedish prime minister changing the timing of his visit to Seoul. The United States also made a similar decision, deciding to postpone talks on defence as well as joint military exercises between South Korea and the USA.
International reactions to martial law in South Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was planning a visit to Seoul next month, stated that "nothing concrete has been decided" regarding his trip. He added that the authorities in Tokyo are monitoring the situation with "exceptional and serious concerns." The Kyodo agency emphasised that Ishiba refused to comment, noting that these are internal affairs of South Korea.
President Yoon declared martial law on Tuesday evening, accusing the opposition of paralysing government work and sympathising with North Korea. The opposition convened a parliamentary session, where in the presence of 190 out of 300 members the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the lifting of martial law. After the vote, soldiers left the parliament, and Yoon announced the lifting of martial law.
The newspaper "Chosun Ilbo" reports that a crowd of Koreans gathered in front of the entrance to the parliament and greeted the news of the vote on lifting martial law with cheers. Many protesters demanded the president's resignation.
