South Korea is considering a shift in its policy on arms support for Ukraine as ties between Russia and North Korea deepen, President Yoon Suk Yeol indicated at a press conference on November 7.
"Depending on the level of North Korean involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy in phases," Yoon stated, as reported by France24.
"We are not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons," the president added.
Previously, Yoon suggested that South Korea could reconsider its stance on direct military aid to active warzones if the situation escalates.
If arms are sent, "defensive weapons" would be prioritized, he said.
However, a source within the Presidential Office told the state media outlet Yonhap that supplying 155 mm artillery shells is "currently not on the table."
South Korea has so far limited its support for Ukraine to humanitarian and non-lethal aid, constrained by legislative policies. Last year, rumors circulated that South Korea had secretly provided artillery shells to Ukraine via the U.S., though the government denied these claims.
This discussion comes after Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that Ukrainian forces have recently encountered North Korean troops, deployed by Pyongyang to support Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that about 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk region.
