South Korea Cautiously Responded to Ukraine's Request for Military Aid
South Korea is not yet ready to change its position on arms supplies to Ukraine, despite Kyiv's statements about the preparation of a new large-scale deployment of North Korean military personnel in Russia. A representative of the South Korean Foreign Ministry stated on August 10 that Seoul will continue to consider assistance to Ukraine within the framework of current legislation.
The statement came after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on South Korea to deepen defense cooperation with Ukraine. Kyiv is particularly interested in air defense systems and other military capabilities amid expanding cooperation between Russia and the DPRK.
"The supply of defense materials by South Korea to any country has always been carried out in accordance with domestic legislation," — said a high-ranking representative of the South Korean Foreign Ministry.
He recalled that Seoul is already providing Ukraine with assistance in energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, and will continue to consider measures aimed at the country's recovery and the achievement of peace.
Yonhap views this wording as confirmation of Seoul's previously cautious stance: South Korea provides humanitarian and other non-military aid to Ukraine, but so far refrains from direct supplies of lethal weapons.
Zelenskyy earlier stated that a decision had been made to send another 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to Russia. According to him, cooperation with Moscow gives Pyongyang modern warfare experience that can later be used to develop its own armed forces and missile potential. The President of Ukraine emphasized that against this background, Kyiv is counting on deeper cooperation with South Korea.
At the same time, the South Korean government representative neither confirmed Zelenskyy's data on the planned additional dispatch of DPRK military personnel, nor details of diplomatic contacts regarding possible defense assistance to Ukraine. Seoul stated that it is closely monitoring the situation.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry stressed that military cooperation between Russia and North Korea directly affects the security of the Republic of Korea and violates UN Security Council resolutions. The country's government believes that Moscow and Pyongyang must immediately cease such interaction.
Seoul has repeatedly expressed public concern that the DPRK's participation in the war allows the North Korean side to gain practical military and technical knowledge. The South Korean Foreign Ministry, together with international partners, noted that the use of North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukraine provides Pyongyang with data that can be used for further weapons development.
In July, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Seoul then confirmed a $100 million comprehensive aid package for Ukraine, focused on humanitarian support, recovery, and reconstruction.
Thus, the expanding military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang is increasing pressure on Seoul to reconsider restrictions on support for Ukraine; however, at the moment, the South Korean government has not announced a shift toward direct arms supplies.
Based on materials from: Yonhap, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea
