President Yoon Suk Yeol said the government will not rule out providing weapons to Ukraine, depending on the degree of participation by North Korean troops in Russia’s military offensive.
In a press conference on Thursday, Yoon said Seoul would need to move in phases to change the type of support it provides for Ukraine, which until now has mostly been humanitarian and economic assistance.
If Seoul decides to send arms to the war-ravaged country, Yoon said the administration will give priority to defensive weapons.
While South Korea received support from the international community when it was in trouble and it makes sense to want to help a country resist an illegal foreign invasion, Yoon said the North’s participation is a new variable in the situation.
The president raised concerns about the possibility that Russia could transfer military technology to the North and provide North Korean soldiers with experience in modern warfare, both of which could threaten the South’s security.