South Korea rules out supplying Ukraine with weapons and air defence systems – The Korea Times

The South Korean Foreign Ministry has said Seoul will continue providing Ukraine with humanitarian assistance only and does not plan to supply lethal weapons or air defence systems, despite requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid reports of additional North Korean troops being sent to Russia.

Source: The Korea Times, citing a senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official

Quote from the official: "South Korea's supply of defence materials to any country has always been carried out in accordance with domestic law. The government has offered support to Ukraine in a variety of sectors, including energy, infrastructure, healthcare and education, and will continue reviewing measures to help Ukraine recover peace and rebuild."

Details: The South Korean official's remarks came in response to Zelenskyy's calls for deeper cooperation and the provision of critically needed defence equipment to Ukraine amid reports that between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean troops are being sent to Russia to take part in the war against Ukraine.

"They [South Korea] have a legal restriction under their Constitution. But we would like to have this cooperation and are counting on it. Our diplomats are in contact," Zelenskyy added.

The South Korean official declined to confirm Zelenskyy's comments about diplomatic talks on the issue or the reported additional deployment of North Korean troops.

Meanwhile, the official stressed that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia "is directly related to our security and violates the United Nations resolutions".

"Our government's position is that this cooperation should stop immediately. We are following the matter closely," the official said.

Previously:

• On 10 August, Zelenskyy said that Russia plans to involve a further 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to carry out tasks on its territory.
• On 6 August, Reuters, citing Andrii Cherniak, a representative of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, reported that a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, possibly with six launchers and 120 ballistic missiles.

Background: In June 2024, Russian ruler Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defence pact. Pyongyang subsequently sent at least 20,000 troops and engineers to Russia's Kursk Oblast to take part in the war against Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!