South Korea gives cautious response to Zelenskyy's call for air defense for Ukraine
Photo: South Korean servicemen near missile systems (Getty Images)
A senior South Korean Foreign Ministry official said the country is taking a cautious approach to Ukraine’s request for air defense systems and other military assistance.
"South Korea's supply of defense materials to any country has always been carried out in accordance with domestic law," the official said.
He also stressed that Seoul is already supporting Ukraine in other areas, including energy, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
According to the official, the South Korean government will continue to consider measures that could help Ukraine restore peace and rebuild the country. At the same time, the statement effectively confirms that supplying lethal weapons to Kyiv is not currently part of Seoul’s policy.
What Seoul says about Russia and North Korea
South Korea, meanwhile, stresses that military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang directly affects its national security.
According to the Foreign Ministry official, the cooperation also violates United Nations resolutions. Seoul believes that the military partnership between Russia and North Korea must end.
"Our government's position is that this cooperation should stop immediately. We are following the matter closely," the official said.
At the same time, South Korea continues to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine while refraining from supplying Kyiv with lethal weapons.
The South Korean official’s statement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for closer cooperation with Seoul. The day before, he said North Korea was preparing to deploy additional troops to Russia, with 30,000 to 50,000 North Korean soldiers potentially involved.
Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian president called on Seoul to deepen cooperation with Kyiv.
In particular, Ukraine is seeking South Korea’s support in air defense and other military capabilities.
