ANKARA

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempted imposition of martial law as "shocking" and "wrong," local media reported.

Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, Sullivan said the US is closely monitoring South Korea's constitutional process and expressed hope that Seoul will resolve the ongoing crisis peacefully, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"I think the declaration of martial law in early December was shocking. I think it was wrong, and now we are watching a constitutional procedure play out. We want to make sure that it does so without violence, that it does so in accordance with the ROK (Republic of Korea) Constitution," Sullivan said.

"I believe that the ROK will come out the other side of this with strong democratic institutions, with a continued deep commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance," he added.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a visit to Seoul, said he had communicated “serious concerns” to South Korean officials regarding Yoon’s imposition of martial law last month.

South Korea has been grappling with a prolonged political crisis since December, following the brief implementation of martial law. The situation has led to turmoil in state affairs after the opposition-dominated parliament impeached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had taken charge after Yoon’s ouster.

Yoon is currently undergoing a trial at the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether he should be removed from office or reinstated.

The embattled 63-year-old leader is the first sitting South Korean president to face charges of treason and insurrection, as well as a travel ban. He also faces an unprecedented arrest warrant after defying a court order to attend questioning by investigators.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid