Russia has threatened a strong response if South Korea decides to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine for the Russia-Ukraine war.

In an interview with the state-owned TASS news agency on Sunday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said arms supplies to Ukraine “to kill Russian citizens” would completely destroy relations between Seoul and Moscow.

Pledging to respond in every necessary way, Rudenko said this is unlikely to strengthen Seoul’s security.

The deputy minister called on Seoul to soberly assess the situation, refrain from “reckless steps,” and think of its long-term national interests rather than short-term opportunistic considerations.

At a press conference earlier in the month, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Seoul will not rule out providing weapons to Ukraine, depending on the degree of participation by North Korean troops in Russia’s military offensive.