Russia is following events in South Korea with concern after the president briefly declared martial law, but there are no threats to Russian citizens there, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

A night of political upheaval in South Korea has upended stability in a key democratic US ally – sending shock waves through the region and Washington at a moment of acute global tension.

The United States said on Tuesday it was watching events in ally South Korea with "grave concern" after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, and said it hoped the crisis would be resolved peacefully in accordance with the rule of law.