China urges quick return to stability in Republic of Korea

South Korean President Park Geun-hye delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the 1919 independence movement against Japanese rule over the Korean peninsula, in Seoul March 1, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

China upholds the principle of not interfering in other countries' domestic affairs, and hopes that the Republic of Korea can quickly restore stability, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday while commenting on the impeachment of the ROK president.

The parliament in Seoul passed a motion to impeach Park Geun-hye, the country's first female president, on Friday amid the country's worst political scandal in a generation.

As a close neighbor, China hopes to develop good relations with the ROK, Lu said.

Mentioning that Park still remains president, Lu spoke highly of her efforts in pushing forward the China-ROK relationship after taking office in 2013.

But China firmly opposes the deployment of the anti-missile THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system in the ROK since it could harm China's security interests, Lu said. Park approved the deployment of THAAD early this year.

ROK Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will assume leadership until the country's Constitutional Court rules on whether Park must permanently step down. The court has six months to decide.

If six of the court's nine justices support her impeachment, Park will be formally removed from office and the country would then hold a presidential election within 60 days.

National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun said the bill on Park's impeachment was passed by a vote of 236 for, with 56 against, and 9 invalid votes and abstentions.