US Congressman Brad Sherman (Democrat, California) warned President Yoon Suk-yeol that he hopes there will not be a second martial law.
Congressman Brad Sherman, a 15-term member of the US House of Representatives, appeared on MBC Radio's ‘Kwon Soon-pyo's News High Kick’ on the 12th, expressing his negative stance on President Yoon's declaration of martial law and forecasting changes in inter-Korean relations since the Trump administration began.
In the broadcast the day before, Congressman Brad Sherman criticized President Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3, stating it was “wrong” and that “when President Yoon undermines democracy in South Korea, he also undermines the relationship between the US and Korea.”
Regarding the upcoming vote on President Yoon's second impeachment on the 14th, he said, “As a member of the US government, it is difficult to express an opinion on what should be done,” but emphasized, “The most important thing is that peace, democracy, and the constitution have triumphed, and democratic citizens around the world reject the declaration of martial law that is not based on an actual state of emergency.”
Regarding President Yoon's failure to inform the US, an ally, before declaring a state of emergency, he stated, “We all know that there was no need to declare martial law at all,” and added, “He probably did not inform the US because he knew that if he did, the US would respond negatively.”
On the suspicion that the South Korean Ministry of National Defense intentionally provoked North Korea to induce a local war, he said, “This is definitely something that needs to be investigated,” and criticized, “Tens of thousands of US troops are prepared to sacrifice in battle, but I do not want our forces to die in a war that breaks out as a ‘disguised operation’ when there is no provocation from North Korea.”
Regarding concerns that President Yoon might declare a second martial law, he stated, “He has declared that he will not declare martial law again, so I hope he does not. There is no basis for that,” and added, “If the South Korean government takes actions that provoke conflict, the US will know immediately. And I will inform the world who is responsible for this issue.”
Additionally, regarding the fact that Foreign Minister Park Tae-young did not answer the phone call from US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg at the time of the martial law declaration, he said, “I answer my wife's calls immediately because she is the most important person,” and emphasized, “The most important diplomatic partner for South Korea is the US. Even if the South Korean Foreign Minister did not have all the information, it would have been good if he had answered the call.”
Furthermore, Congressman Brad Sherman expressed, “I hope the issues in Seoul will be resolved by the time Trump takes office,” adding, “It seems that Trump will be more focused on other global crises for the first six months after taking office, but I hope he will pay attention to negotiations with North Korea's Kim Jong-un afterward.”
The full interview with Congressman Brad Sherman can be found on the MBC Radio
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
