Amid political turmoil, S.Korea vows to continue alliance with Japan, US

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – In a show of stability amid growing political turmoil over the president’s short-lived imposition of martial law, South Korea Thursday pledged to continue its trilateral alliance with US and Japan.

The pledge was reiterated during a phone call between South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s premier.

The phone call came as Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s president, remains suspended from duties after parliament voted to impeach him over his failed bid to impose martial law in the country.

Under Yoon, Seoul has closed ranks with Washington as well as Tokyo.

Han’s pledge to continue trilateral security cooperation aims to “cope with the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia,” Seoul-based Yonhap News reported, citing South Korean officials.

The duo also agreed to maintain stability to develop ties and also prepare to commemorate next year’s 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic ties in the wake of World War II.

After the shock move by Yoon on Dec. 3, Han tried to assure Japan that all state affairs “will be run strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the law and vowed to conduct diplomacy and security policies without delay.”

Han is acting president until South Korea’s Constitutional court decides whether to remove Yoon from office or not.

Separately, Han on Thursday vetoed six contentious bills adopted by parliament and urged lawmakers to reconsider the four agricultural bills and two parliament-related acts.

Parliament is dominated by the main opposition Democratic Party, which has rendered the Yoon administration toothless.

Among the bills, the Grain Management Act mandates government purchase of surplus rice to stabilize prices during market fluctuations.

Two parliament-related bills aim to halt automatic submission of government budgets to the full assembly after the legal deadline while another would require companies to submit requested data to lawmakers.

Han’s veto is expected to aggravate the country’s political turmoil.

Yoon is first sitting president in the history of South Korea to face such charges as well as a travel ban over his move to impose martial law, which was lifted within six hours after parliament rushed to reject his decree.