South Korea's arms transfer to Ukraine hinges on Russia's stance on North Korea – Yonhap
Read NV on Google
South Korea will determine the volume of its arms supplies to Ukraine based on Russia's position on its relations with North Korea, said Presidential National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin on June 21, according to news agency Yonhap.
In response, Putin warned that South Korea would make a "big mistake" if it decided to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine.
"There are various options for providing weapons, and our position on the recent developments between Russia and North Korea depends on how Russia approaches the situation going forward," the official said in a telephone conversation with the agency.
Until now, South Korea has only supplied non-lethal aid to Ukraine to combat Russian aggression due to the country's policy of not providing lethal weapons to states at war.
Among the potential weapons that South Korea could transfer to Ukraine are 155-mm artillery rounds and air defense systems, government sources told the outlet.
Seoul officials have maintained strategic vagueness about the types of weapons, which is seen as a diplomatic move to use the opportunity to pressure Moscow to stop it from transferring key military technologies to Pyongyang.
South Korea is expected to call a senior Russian representative in Seoul later in the day to lodge a protest over the new treaty signed with North Korea.
Earlier it was reported that South Korea had decided to reconsider the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine. Thus, the South Korean presidential administration condemned the agreement signed between Russia and North Korea, which provides for mutual defense assistance in the event of war.
Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea and the agreement with Kim Jong Un
Putin arrived in Pyongyang on June 18 to meet with dictator Kim Jong Un in his first visit to the North Korean capital since 2000.
During the meeting, Putin and Kim signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement, seeking to expand economic and military cooperation and strengthen a "united front" against Washington.
The Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang published the clauses of the agreement between the DPRK and the Russian Federation, which was signed by dictators Putin and Kim Jong Un.
According to the agreement, Russia and North Korea pledged to provide "mutual assistance" in case of "aggression" against one of the countries. Also, in the event of a "threat of aggression," the countries will agree on measures to coordinate their positions and ensure cooperation in "eliminating" the threat.
The agreement also contains the following clauses:
Moscow and Pyongyang undertake not to enter into agreements with third countries that could "threaten the sovereignty and security" of the two countries;
Russia and North Korea seek to increase bilateral trade and create "favorable conditions" for economic cooperation;
Moscow and Pyongyang have agreed to "develop relations" in space, peaceful atom, AI and IT;
the two countries will intensify cooperation in the field of propaganda to counter alleged "false information and information provocations."
Russia and North Korea will create a "system of measures" to strengthen defense capabilities in order to "prevent war and ensure peace."
The agreement on strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea is indefinite.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
