Washington: The United States will continue to express its support publicly to emphasize the importance of South Korea's democracy, as stated by a senior White House official. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan described South Korea's democracy as "robust" and "resilient" during his remarks on Wednesday. According to Yonhap News Agency, Sullivan's comments followed an unexpected declaration of martial law by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday night, which was later annulled after the National Assembly passed a resolution to overturn it. Sullivan emphasized the significance of the proper functioning of South Korea's democratic institutions, noting that the dramatic announcement caused widespread concern, including in Washington. Sullivan made his remarks at an event organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, highlighting that the United States aims to continue engaging both publicly and privately with South Korean counterparts to reinforce the ongoing importance of dem ocracy in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Sullivan also mentioned that the U.S. learned about the martial law declaration through President Yoon's televised announcement, which raised "deep concern" in Washington. He acknowledged the National Assembly's adherence to constitutional processes and procedures, leading to the retraction of martial law by the president. Sullivan noted that a series of procedures are now in place to address the incident. The unexpected developments in Seoul seemed to have caught U.S. officials by surprise, particularly as President Joe Biden has prioritized championing democracy and strengthening alliances with South Korea and Japan as key aspects of his foreign policy agenda during his term, which concludes next month.