Washington: The U.S. State Department emphasized that the life sentence of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is an issue for South Korea's judicial system. The department reiterated its "ironclad" commitment to the alliance between the United States and South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment for his unsuccessful attempt to establish martial law in 2024. The court characterized the act as an insurrection, involving the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.
A State Department spokesperson conveyed via email to Yonhap News Agency that "The United States and the ROK share a commitment to the rule of law. This is a matter for the ROK's judicial system, and the United States respects the independence of its democratic institutions." ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
The spokesperson further stated, "The U.S. commitment to the U.S.-ROK Alliance is ironclad. We continue to advance U.S. and mutual interests with our ally, the ROK."