President Yoon to Consider Providing South Korean Manufactured Arms to Ukraine
The big question is whether the ROK will provide advanced military weapons to Ukraine for free or for sale:
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that South Korea could consider providing arms to Ukraine, depending on the extent of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, vowing not to “sit idle” in response to Pyongyang’s troop dispatch to Russia.
Yoon made the remarks after a summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Seoul, during which both leaders strongly condemned North Korea’s troop dispatch to Russia and agreed to strengthen joint responses to growing security threats.
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Yoon: #ROK stands with Ukraine
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“President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that South Korea could consider providing arms to Ukraine, depending on the extent of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, vowing not to “sit idle” in response to Pyongyang’s troop dispatch to Russia.”
Come on, Yoon. Don’t threaten Russia.
The correct response is:
“We find this situation disappointing.
In other news, we are happy to hear that NATO members still have remaining military budgets to protect their long-term interests.
As a global supplier of high-quality weapons systems at a very competitive price point, we feel we may be able to mitigate some of our disappointment by offering very favorable terms to NATO countries.
An example of these favorable terms might be relaxed restrictions on post-purchase reexportation.
Whatever the case, we wish everyone peace and prosperity in a world without conflict.”
Seoul has formally rejected Kyiv’s request for a number of key weapons, including Chongun air defense systems, 155mm shells, and radars. South Korea’s Defense Ministry has instructed leading defense companies including LIG Nex1, Hanwha, and Hyundai Rotem to refrain from direct contact with Ukraine, citing legal restrictions prohibiting arms exports to active combat zones.
Seoul’s refusal coincided with a visit to South Korea by Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who, according to insiders, was trying to secure direct arms supplies to strengthen the Ukrainian army. However, Seoul’s official position remains unchanged: South Korea will not directly support the conflict with weapons.
However, experts note that such a position only concerns direct deliveries. South Korean weapons continue to arrive in Ukraine through intermediaries. Thus, a few days ago, a flight was recorded from the Polish airport Rzeszow to South Korea, which, according to analysts, may be connected with the organization of such deliveries. Such routes provide an opportunity to bypass restrictions without formally violating the law.
Recall that South Korea has already faced criticism for supplying weapons through third countries, especially in the context of American military contracts. Despite its official neutrality, such practices raise questions about Seoul’s real role in global arms policy.