Ukraine has raised concerns about the potential deployment of an additional 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean troops to Russia, urging South Korea to provide air defense support. However, the South Korean government has reiterated its cautious stance.
According to Yonhap News Agency on August 10, a Foreign Ministry official stated that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has expressed hope for South Korea's air defense support, and that diplomatic contacts between the two countries are ongoing. The official emphasized, "Our provision of defense materials to each country has been conducted in compliance with relevant domestic laws and policies."
The official added, "We have been providing support to Ukraine in various fields, including energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, and we will continue to explore ways to assist in the restoration of peace and reconstruction in Ukraine." This statement reaffirms the government's existing position that military support for Ukraine is unlikely.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the South Korean government has focused on humanitarian and non-military assistance while maintaining a principle of not directly supplying lethal weapons.
Earlier, on August 9, President Zelensky shared in an interview with local media that he hopes for South Korea's support in the area of air defense systems, acknowledging legal constraints in South Korea but expressing optimism for cooperation as diplomatic contacts are underway.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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