WASHINGTON: A State Department spokesperson expressed the United States' hope Tuesday that "laws" and "regulations" will be abided by in South Korea, as he addressed a question over whether the South Korean legislature's resolution demanding the lifting of emergency martial law should be observed. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel made the remarks after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law, accusing the opposition of paralyzing the government with "anti-state activities," while the National Assembly passed the resolution to lift the decree. According to Yonhap News Agency, Patel stated during a press briefing, "I am certainly no expert in South Korean law and certainly how the South Korean legislature works and what the ins and outs are of that. But certainly, it is our hope and expectation that the laws and regulations of a particular country are abided by by that particular country." When asked if the laws and regulations also include the National Assembly's resoluti on calling for the lifting of martial law, Patel confirmed, "That would be the case as well." Patel emphasized Washington's expectation that any "political" disputes in South Korea will be resolved "peacefully." However, he refrained from characterizing the martial law declaration as a political matter, stating, "It is not for us to characterize." He noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been briefed on the martial law declaration and that the U.S. is gathering facts and circumstances to engage appropriately with counterparts both in the United States and Seoul.