The deployment of to fight alongside Russian forces in the Ukrainian war is already beginning to have a response from South Koreawhich sees this movement as a great threat.
Yoon Yeocheol, South Korean ambassador to the United Kingdomhe stressed, in statements to the American media that your country Will “closely monitor” North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine.
In that sense, Seoul’s ambassador in London has warned that South Korea “will take active measures in stages” depending on the levels of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.”
And the first of those measures seems to have already been adopted. Although South Korea has so far refused to provide military aid to Ukraine directly, everything indicates that the country has supplied hundreds of thousands of artillery cartridges (which are very necessary for the Ukrainian forces in the current context of the conflict) across the United States.
Sending economic resources to Ukraine
What Yoon has confirmed is that Seoul has sent $400 million to kyiv to purchase equipment such as generatorswhich are essential in Ukrainian sectors such as energy, healthcare or education. Besides, South Korea is considering provide to Ukraine another longer-term aid package worth more than $2 billion.
“We are concerned that North Korea will accumulate combat experienceget real operational data for your weapons, obtain financing for nuclear and missile development thanks to economic support from Russiaand potentially receive help from Russia to advance military technology, as well as to modernize its conventional weapons,” Yoon explained.
Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that in the future South Korea could choose to send military aid directly to Ukraine. “We would consider the supply of weapons for defensive purposes as part of the step-by-step scenariosand if it seems like they’re going too far, We could also consider offensive use”said a South Korean presidential official in October.
