US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday opened a visit to crisis-riven South Korea, where he will seek delicately to encourage continuity with the policies, but not tactics, of the impeached president.

The visit comes after a weekend that saw thousands of South Koreans brave a snowstorm to stage dueling rallies in support of and opposition to President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was suspended over a failed martial law bid and resisting arrest.

Blinken will meet his counterpart Cho Tae-yul later on Monday, the same day a warrant to arrest Yoon expires.

Yoon had once been a darling of the Biden administration with his bold moves to turn the page on friction with Japan and his eye on a greater role for South Korea on global issues.

The South Korean leader joined Biden for a landmark three-way summit with Japan's prime minister and -- months before declaring martial law -- was picked to lead a global democracy summit, a signature initiative for the outgoing US administration.

Blinken's trip is meant to highlight US President Joe Biden's efforts to build alliances. He will head afterwards to........

© International Business Times