The State Department in Washington (Herald DB)
The State Department in Washington (Herald DB)

The United States on Saturday reiterated its "firm" support for the South Korean people and appreciated the Asian country's efforts to act in line with its Constitution, hours after a Seoul court issued a warrant to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol for an extended period over his botched martial law bid.

A State Department spokesperson issued a statement, reaffirming the "enduring" strength of the Seoul-Washington alliance and Washington's security commitment to South Korea.

"The United States stands firm in our support for the Korean people. We reaffirm our shared commitment to the rule of law, and we appreciate all efforts made by the Republic of Korea and its citizens to act in accordance with its Constitution," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency, referring to South Korea by its official name.

"The United States remains committed to working with Acting President Choi and the ROK Government. We are confident in the democratic resilience of the ROK and the Korean people," the official added.

Citing the risks of destroying evidence, a judge at the Seoul Western District Court granted the warrant on charges Yoon led an insurrection and abused his power when he declared martial law on Dec. 3 and allegedly sent troops to the National Assembly to stop lawmakers from voting down the decree. (Yonhap)