South Korea’s political chaos forces delay of US Defence Secretary’s visit

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has postponed a planned visit to South Korea that was initially under consideration for this month due to ongoing political instability in the country. 

South Korea is facing uncertainty following President Yoon Suk Yeol’s surprising martial law declaration, which has left the nation in a state of flux as it awaits a verdict in Yoon’s impeachment trial.

“The postponement of his visit was unavoidable due to scheduling conflicts on the US side,” said Jeon Ha-gyu, a spokesperson for the South Korean Defence Ministry, during a briefing on March 17, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media sources. 

The visit, which had been discussed between the two nations, now appears unlikely to occur until the situation in South Korea stabilizes.

Hegseth’s delayed trip raises questions about the US administration’s willingness to engage with South Korea while a leadership vacuum persists. With the country awaiting the outcome of Yoon’s impeachment trial, it remains unclear whether the president will resume his duties or if new elections will be called.

This delay is another setback for South Korea, which has already faced a diplomatic blow with Washington’s unexpected designation of the country as a “sensitive country” for energy cooperation. This categorization, announced by the US Department of Energy, places South Korea in the lowest category and goes into effect next month.

“There’s no point in any diplomatic efforts if your counterpart doesn’t acknowledge you,” said Kim Jung, a political science professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, referring to the limitations acting President Choi Sang-mok is facing. “A certain degree of diplomatic fallout is inevitable for South Korea.”

The US decision to add South Korea to the Sensitive Country List marks another challenging moment in the bilateral relationship. The designation will impact the approval process for access by South Korean nationals and may be linked to national security, nuclear nonproliferation, or terrorism-related concerns. While the exact reasons for the decision are unclear, it follows rising calls within South Korea for the country to consider developing its own nuclear weapons following Trump’s election victory.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry expressed its concern about the move, stating that it was taking the development very seriously and is in close communication with the US to address the issue. Cho Tae-yul, South Korea’s top diplomat, revealed that the government was not notified in advance and had to reach out to the US after learning of the decision through unofficial channels.

In response, Choi, the interim leader of South Korea, has ordered the country’s industry minister to meet with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright for consultations this week. South Korean government agencies are also working to mitigate the impact of the energy cooperation decision.

The diplomatic challenges facing South Korea come amid the ongoing uncertainty following President Yoon’s impeachment and his temporary suspension from duties due to his controversial martial law declaration in December. With the Constitutional Court yet to announce a ruling on Yoon’s fate, South Korea remains in a state of limbo, lacking clear policy direction.

Meanwhile, North Korea continues to ramp up its nuclear ambitions, with leader Kim Jong Un strengthening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Over the weekend, several Russian warplanes entered a South Korean air identification zone, emphasizing the security threats Seoul faces as Kim deepens his relationship with Moscow.

The Russian jets did not enter South Korea’s territorial air space but conducted exercises within the air zone, where aircraft are required to identify themselves. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the activity but did not escalate the situation.

By Tamilla Hasanova