Russian Deputy Secretary of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday threatened to arm North Korea if South Korea agrees to provide deadly aid to Ukraine.
Medvedev’s comments came after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hinted that the Asian nation may be ready to provide more than just economic and humanitarian aid to Kiev, after refusing to do so for more than a year following Russia’s February 2022 invasion , to do that.
“I wonder what the people of this country will say when they see the latest samples of Russian weapons from their closest neighbors – our partners from the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] DPRK?” asked Medvedev, who was once President of Russia.
Russia’s then-President Dmitry Medvedev arrives in Seoul March 26, 2012 to attend the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. Medvedev threatened this week that Moscow could arm North Korea if South Korea begins delivering deadly aid to Ukraine. (Photo credit should read YEKATERINA SHTUKINA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Moscow has for months looked to North Korea to help it fuel its ongoing war in Ukraine, and last month the White House said it was aware of Russia offering Pyongyang food supplies in exchange for arms and ammunition.
It’s unclear whether Russia is able to arm other nations as it struggles to keep its own troops in Ukraine adequately armed, but Medvedev – who has been notorious for his outlandish comments since the invasion began – said Arming North Korea should be considered a quid pro quo.
John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the National Security Council, speaks as an image shows Russian railroad cars in North Korea during a daily White House news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House January 20, 2023 in Washington, DC (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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South Korea has taken no official steps to send lethal aid to Ukraine, although Yoon told Portal on Wednesday that Seoul is exploring options to help Kiev defend and rebuild – just like it did during the 1950-1953 Korean War received international aid.
“When there is a situation that the international community cannot condone, such as a large-scale attack on civilians, a massacre, or a serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist solely on humanitarian or financial assistance,” so the south said the Korean president.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the position was “unfortunate” and accused Seoul of taking an “unfriendly” position towards Russia.
United States Marines participate in an annual KOR-USA Combine Military Drill near Yeongil Bay in Pohang, South Korea on August 12, 2021. North Korea’s top envoy to Russia has called for US troops to be withdrawn from South Korea and called on allies. The joint military exercise is a “rehearsal of war,” a Russian news agency said on Thursday. (Photo by Seung-il Ryu/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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“They will try to draw more and more countries directly into this conflict. But of course, the start of arms deliveries indirectly means a certain stage of involvement in this conflict,” he added, according to Portal.
Yoon is set to meet with President Biden next week as the US and South Korea increasingly strengthen ties amid ongoing aggression from Russia and China.