The office of the Korean presidency announced on Thursday that whether or not to deliver arms to Ukraine will “depend on Russia”.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office said Thursday that “South Korea cannot stand by and watch massacres be taken seriously by the international community.”
“What happens next will depend on Russia,” a presidential official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
South Korea’s policy in general is not to supply arms to countries in active conflict, making it difficult to supply arms to Ukraine, the same source said, adding that it is a “voluntary” commitment.
“Unless civilians die in droves, our current position remains unchanged,” the presidential official added.
South Korea supported economic sanctions imposed on Moscow and sent humanitarian aid and non-lethal equipment to Ukraine. It also recently signed important arms deals with European countries, including Poland.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hinted that his country could supply arms to Ukraine in an interview with Portal on Wednesday.
“If there were a situation that the international community could not tolerate, such as a large-scale attack on civilians, a massacre, or a serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult to insist on just providing humanitarian or financial assistance,” he said.
Russia responded on Wednesday, warning Seoul.
“Unfortunately, Seoul has taken a rather unfriendly stance on this whole thing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
A “start of arms deliveries would indirectly imply some involvement in this conflict,” he warned.
United States-ally South Korea is an increasingly important arms exporter internationally, but has so far opposed any arms sales to Ukraine.
A recently leaked US intelligence document describes the South Korean government as torn between its current policy of lethal aid and the West’s growing demands for weapons for Ukraine.
Mr. Yoon will be leaving for a state visit to the United States next week.