South Korea Mulls Arms Support for Ukraine Amid Russia’s Military Pact with North Korea

After signing a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement focused on military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, the South Korean government has begun to exert pressure on Russia. Amid adding 234 items to the export control list, bringing the total to 1,402 items, the South Korean government decided to reconsider its arms support for Ukraine, which is at war with Russia. Up until now, South Korea has kept its policy of not supplying lethal weapons.

Chang Ho Jin, the head of the National Security Office, announced this in a government statement during a press briefing on the 20th after presiding over the National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee.

Chang expressed serious concern and condemnation of the treaty signed recently between North Korea and Russia, which aims to strengthen mutual military and economic cooperation.

He particularly pointed out that “it is preposterous and absurd for both sides (North Korea-Russia), who have a history of initiating aggressive wars such as the 6.25 War and the Ukraine War, to promise military cooperation based on a pre-emptive attack that international community will not occur.”

He also warned that “any cooperation that directly or indirectly aids North Korea’s military enhancement is a violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions and subject to the international community’s surveillance and sanctions.”

“As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia, which has led the resolution against North Korea, is damaging the security of South Korea by violating its resolution and supporting North Korea, which will inevitably hurt Korea-Russia relations,” he added.

Chang emphasized the commitment to respond firmly to any actions threatening security in collaboration with the international community. He highlighted plans to strengthen the expanded deterrence capabilities of the Korea-U.S. alliance further to neutralize North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities and enhance the Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation system.

The South Korean government decided to consider lethal weapon support for Ukraine. A senior official from the presidential office said, “Our policy has been not to support lethal weapons for Ukraine, but we are considering revising that policy. How we will proceed will be interesting for Russia to find out.” He added, “We will not say whether or not we will provide lethal weapons about the reconsideration of weapon support for Ukraine. There are various options for weapon support and different ways to classify them based on whether they are lethal or non-lethal.”

The South Korean government also strengthened economic sanctions against Russia. It designated Russian and North Korean entities involved in weapon transportation and fuel transshipment between Russia and North Korea, as well as four third-country vessels, five institutions, and eight individuals, as targets of unilateral sanctions. In addition, on the export control list for Russia, which has been in effect since the Ukraine War, the South Korean government added 243 new items, increasing the total number of sanctioned items to 1,402.