The U.S. government has explicitly addressed its stance on the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Despite Yoon’s suspension from duties following the passage of the impeachment motion, the alliance between South Korea and the United States remains unchanged.
During the Monday briefing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller firmly stated, “The U.S.-South Korea alliance is not just an alliance between presidents.”
While Yoon fostered the U.S.-South Korea-Japan cooperation with President Joe Biden, the U.S. made it clear that the alliance is not based on personal relationships between the two leaders, considering the recent passage of the impeachment motion through the National Assembly.
Miller emphasized, “The U.S.-South Korea alliance is an alliance between governments and an alliance between peoples. “
When asked about potential changes to U.S. diplomatic and security policies regarding South Korea due to Yoon’s suspension, Miller responded, “Our commitment to the U.S.-South Korea alliance remains ironclad.”
Miller expressed optimism, asserting, “There will be no changes to the U.S.-South Korea alliance.”
He particularly praised South Korea for demonstrating democratic resilience over the past few weeks, noting, “That is democratic resilience that was hard won several decades ago.”
Miller continued, “We have seen them follow peacefully a process that the Republic of Korea’s constitution laid out.” He added, “We are ready to continue to work with the acting president and the Government of the Republic of Korea in the same way that we were acting and cooperating with President Yoon.”