South Korea has refused to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine
South Korea is not currently prepared to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, despite Kyiv’s calls to strengthen military cooperation amid the growing rapprochement between Russia and North Korea.
A high-ranking official from South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Seoul is carefully considering Ukraine’s requests for air defense systems and other military aid.
According to him, decisions on the transfer of defense materiel are made in accordance with the country’s domestic laws.
“South Korea’s supply of defense materials to any country has always been carried out in accordance with domestic law,” the official noted.
At the same time, officials in Seoul emphasized that South Korea continues to support Ukraine in other areas. Specifically, this includes assistance in the energy sector, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the government will continue to consider measures that can help Ukraine restore peace and rebuild the country.
South Korea also emphasizes that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a direct threat to the country’s security.
Seoul also believes that such cooperation violates relevant United Nations resolutions.
“Our government’s position is that this cooperation must be immediately halted. We are closely monitoring developments,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
Despite this, South Korea is currently maintaining its policy of providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine without supplying lethal weapons.
The South Korean official’s statement came after an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The day before, the Ukrainian leader stated that North Korea is preparing for an additional deployment of troops to Russia. According to him, this involves 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean military personnel.
Against this backdrop, Zelenskyy called on South Korea to deepen military cooperation with Ukraine.
In particular, Kyiv is counting on Seoul’s assistance in the areas of air defense and other military capabilities.
At present, South Korea’s position remains unchanged: Seoul is ready to provide humanitarian support to Ukraine and assist in its recovery, but is not prepared to supply lethal weapons.
This was reported by Yonhap News Agency.
As a reminder, Lithuania is considering purchasing small-scale air defense systems and anti-drone equipment from South Korea. Officials in Vilnius say that when selecting equipment, it is not only its specifications and cost that matter, but also how quickly it can be delivered.
North Korea is using Russia’s war against Ukraine to gain combat experience and prepare for a possible aggression on the Korean Peninsula. The Center for Countering Disinformation believes that Pyongyang may now see a favorable moment for further action.
