President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea is not ruling out providing weapons directly to Ukraine, signalling a possible shift in Seoul's stance (KIM HONG-JI) (KIM HONG-JI/POOL/AFP)
South Korea president says 'not ruling out' direct weapons to Ukraine
AFP: Major arms exporter South Korea is not ruling out providing weapons directly to Ukraine, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday, signalling a possible shift in Seoul's stance on the issue.
Yoon also revealed he had discussed North Korea with US president-elect Donald Trump in a phone conversation that laid the groundwork for a meeting in the "near future".
South Korea has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict but indicated that could change in light of Pyongyang's deployment of troops to Russia to aid its war efforts in Ukraine.
"Now, depending on the level of North Korean involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy in phases," Yoon said at a press conference in Seoul.
"This means we are not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons."
North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia's full-scale offensive in Ukraine.
Seoul and the West have long accused Pyongyang of supplying artillery shells and missiles to Moscow for use in Ukraine.
The latest accusations, based on intelligence reports, indicate the North has deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia, suggesting even deeper involvement in the conflict and triggering outcry in Seoul, Kyiv and Western capitals.
Yoon said his office would monitor unfolding developments related to the operations of North Korean soldiers, and if he decided to provide weapons to Kyiv, the initial batch would be defensive.
"If we proceed with weapons support, we would prioritise defensive weapons as a first consideration," he said without elaborating.
In World
-
Nestled on the shores of the Caspian Sea, Baku serves as both an economic and cultural hub for Azerbaijan. But rapid urbanization, a growing population, and intensified industrial activities have deepened the city’s environmental woes. Residents face an escalating struggle with air pollution, limited green spaces, and challenges in waste management — factors that are increasingly affecting quality of life.
-
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva underwent surgery in Sao Paulo to drain a bleed on his brain linked to a fall at home in October, a medical note published by the government said on Tuesday.
-
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling party said on Tuesday that it was discussing Yoon's potential resignation as early as February after his botched martial law attempt, and holding a snap election in April or May.
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered a Tel Aviv courthouse on Tuesday to take the stand for the first time in a long-running corruption trial that will likely force him to juggle between the courtroom and war room for weeks.
Leave a review