South Korea is considering supplying weapons to Ukraine following the pact signed between the regime of North Korea and Russiawhich includes a clause for mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on the other, according to the South Korean presidential office.
If the decision to send weapons to Ukraine, at war with Russia since February 24, 2022, becomes effective, Seoul would change its policy, which prohibits the supply of lethal weapons to countries that are at war.
“There are several options for providing weapons and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation in the future.”said the national security advisor Chang Ho-jin in statements to the local news agency Yonhap published this Friday.
So far South Korea’s assistance has been in the form of first aid kits, medicines, portable mine detectors and protective suits, but not lethal weapons.
Among the possible weapons that Seoul would be considering sending 155-millimeter artillery shells and air defense systemsas revealed by government sources Yonhap.
The South Korean Government pointed out this possible change in its position after a meeting on Thursday of its National Security Council to assess the recent strategic agreement signed by the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-unand the Russian president, Vladimir Putinduring the visit this week of the Kremlin leader to Pyongyang.
Asked about this at a press conference from Vietnam, where he went after passing through the North Korean capital, Putin warned that South Korea would be committing “A big mistake” if it supplies weapons to Ukraine.
“If that happens, we will make the corresponding decision, which will probably not be liked by the current leaders of South Korea.“, declared the Russian president, without ruling out the supply of weapons to North Korea in response to the delivery of weapons to kyiv by NATO countries.
The South Korean authorities would be evaluating this shift in weapons policy following the signing of the so-called “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” by Moscow and Pyongyang, the full content of which has not been published by either party, except for the existence of the aforementioned military clause.
Friction on the Korean Peninsula is increasing, especially since at the beginning of the year the North decided to withdraw from the Constitution the need to carry out the reunification of the peninsula and declared the South its main enemy.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for United States Department of StateMatthew Miller welcomed South Korea’s announcement that it will reconsider its stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine.
“That is a decision that South Korea must make, just as it is a decision that each country must make in terms of whether they are going to supply weapons to Ukraine. We welcome any support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, which is ultimately a South Korean decision.”Miller said during a press conference.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)
