Borrell urges South Korea to increase aid to Ukraine

"Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat. The Republic of Korea is best positioned to understand it. We are united in our support to Ukraine. I encouraged them to step it up," Borrell wrote on Twitter (X).

Borrell is visiting South Korea to elevate cooperation in security and defense between the EU and Seoul to a new level. He arrived in South Korea after a trip to Japan and visited the heavily fortified demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.

"My visit today of the Demilitarised Zone - DMZ - between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK is yet another reminder of the need to invest more in peace," Borrell wrote.

The first such meeting within the framework of the Strategic Dialogue between the EU and South Korea took place against the backdrop of Washington and Seoul raising alarms about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

In Seoul, Borrell met with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and expressed concern about the developments.

Last week, Cho Tae-yul stated that all possible scenarios were being considered when asked whether Seoul might supply weapons to Ukraine in response to North Korea's assistance to Russia.

South Korea has provided Ukraine with non-lethal aid, including demining equipment, but continues to refuse requests from Kyiv for weapons supplies.

Seoul also considers it likely that Moscow will provide North Korea with military and civilian technologies, as the North rushes to launch a spy satellite and modernize its missile capabilities.

Last week, North Korea showcased its military might by testing a new massive solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile called Hwasong-19.