South Korean authorities do not supply weapons to Ukraine due to the desire to maintain stable relations with Russia, in this regard informed “Yonhap” refers to senior presidential administration official Yoon Seok-yeol.
As the interlocutor of the publication notes, Yun Sok-yeol’s statement about the possible supply of weapons to the Ukrainian army in the future was theoretical.
“We are not doing this because, while South Korea actively supports the international community to protect the freedom of Ukrainian citizens, we need to handle relations with Russia in a stable manner,” an unnamed South Korean official said.
The day before, on April 19, the South Korean president had declared that Seoul could start supplying arms directly to Ukraine in the event of a significant threat to the citizens of his country. Thus, for the first time, Yuk Sung Yeol admitted the possibility of extending military support to Kiev beyond the limits of humanitarian and economic aid.
According to the South Korean leader, the country’s government is exploring ways to protect and restore Ukraine on principle when South Korea received international aid during the 1950-1953 Korean War.
South Korea is a major producer of artillery ammunition and armored vehicles. Despite calls from the West to provide military assistance to Kiev, Seoul has tried to avoid confrontation with Russia, where a large number of South Korean companies are represented, and also because of Moscow’s influence on the DPRK.
At the same time South Korea introduced sanctions against the Russian Central Bank and gradually expands a list of products subject to export control when shipped to Russia.
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