In the wake of a mutual defense pact between Russia and North Korea, South Korea has hinted at a possible change in its stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine. This development comes amidst rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.
What Happened: South Korea’s national security adviser, Chang Ho-jin, disclosed that the country “will reconsider” its policy on weapon supplies to Ukraine. This follows a statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the potential supply of high-precision weapons to North Korea, Financial Times reported on Friday.
"Any co-operation that helps increase North Korea's military power is a violation of the UN Security Council," Chang added.
"It doesn't make sense to promise military co-operation, assuming a pre-strike by the international community that will not happen."
On Friday, South Korea’s foreign ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest the strategic partnership. Under this agreement, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to provide “military and other assistance” in case of conflict.
South Korea’s foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the deal as a significant threat to regional peace and stability. They agreed to “strengthen the US-Korea alliance’s deterrence power and security co-operation” with Japan.
South Korea had previously resisted international pressure to supply Kyiv with weapons, citing a policy of not arming countries in active conflict. However, the prospect of Russia supplying North Korea with high-precision weapons has raised serious concerns.
Matthew Miller, U.S. State Department spokesperson, expressed that Washington would “welcome any support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.” He also warned that Russia’s potential weapon supply to North Korea would “destabilize the Korean Peninsula.”
Why It Matters: The move by South Korea comes in the wake of a deepening military alliance between North Korea and Russia, which has raised concerns in South Korea and the U.S.
In 2023, South Korea’s potential arms supply to Ukraine sparked a warning from a close ally of Putin. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned that Moscow would arm North Korea with advanced weapons if South Korea decided to arm Ukraine.
With the recent confirmation of a North Korean ballistic missile landing in Ukraine, the situation has become even more complex.
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
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