3 weeks ago
Ukraine presses South Korea for air-defence aid as Pyongyang backs Russia
Ukraine is in a big fight with Russia and needs help shooting down missiles and drones that attack its cities.
Ukraine asked South Korea to send special machines called Cheongung-II that can catch and destroy incoming missiles.
South Korea said no to sending weapons because its own laws and safety rules stop it from giving deadly weapons to countries at war.
Instead, South Korea is helping Ukraine with things like energy, hospitals, schools, and rebuilding homes.
At the same time, North Korea is helping Russia by sending thousands of soldiers and missiles to help in the war.
Ukraine says North Korea has sent about 20,000 soldiers to Russia, mostly to a place called Kursk.
Ukraine's leader warns that North Korea might send tens of thousands more soldiers very soon.
Ukraine is worried that North Korean soldiers are learning how to fight modern wars and that North Korea may get even stronger weapons from Russia.
South Korea is also worried that if it gives Ukraine weapons, Russia might give North Korea even more dangerous technology, which could threaten South Korea's own safety.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to South Korea for the Cheongung-II (KM-SAM) air-defence system to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.
Seoul refused lethal arms transfers, citing domestic legal restrictions, and pledged to continue humanitarian, energy, infrastructure, healthcare and reconstruction aid.
North Korea has sent about 20,000 troops to Russia, mostly in the Kursk region, and Ukraine warns an additional 30,000-50,000 could follow.
Ukrainian military intelligence identified North Korean missile crews in Voronezh Oblast equipped with up to six launchers and roughly 120 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles.
South Korea fears supplying weapons could push Russia to give North Korea advanced technology, including satellite guidance, nuclear submarine or re-entry technology.
South Korean and BBC estimates of North Korean casualties differ, with Seoul citing about 6,000 killed or wounded and the BBC estimating around 2,300 killed.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the South Korean government, and the governments of North Korea and Russia.
- What
- Ukraine requested South Korean Cheongung-II air-defence systems, while Seoul declined lethal arms transfers and reaffirmed non-lethal support.
- Where
- Ukraine, South Korea, Russia (including the Kursk region and Voronezh Oblast), and North Korea.
- When
- The appeal was made around the time of a Zelenskyy interview posted on Saturday and a South Korean Foreign Ministry statement on Monday, in the context of ongoing Russian attacks.
- Why
- Ukraine needs air defence against Russian ballistic missiles and drones, including North Korean-supplied weapons, while South Korea balances legal restrictions, strategic concerns about Russia and risks to its own security.
Supply lethal weapons to Ukraine
Maintain non-lethal policy
Direct arms transfers to Ukraine
Supply lethal weapons to Ukraine
Ukraine wants South Korea to provide Cheongung-II air-defence systems, citing a shortage of interceptors and offers of battlefield intelligence, weapons debris analysis and drone-warfare experience in return.
Maintain non-lethal policy
South Korea refuses lethal arms transfers, saying defence-material exports must follow domestic law, and keeps support limited to humanitarian, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, education and reconstruction aid.
Response to North Korea-Russia military cooperation
Supply lethal weapons to Ukraine
Ukraine argues the Moscow-Pyongyang partnership threatens security beyond Ukraine, including the Pacific region, and says North Korea is gaining modern-warfare experience and access to Russian military technology.
Maintain non-lethal policy
South Korea says the cooperation violates UN resolutions and should stop immediately, but it does not confirm Zelenskyy's claims about diplomatic talks or a new North Korean troop deployment.
Risk of Russian retaliation
Supply lethal weapons to Ukraine
Kyiv argues South Korean support would help defend Ukraine against the very missile threat North Korea is helping Russia deploy.
Maintain non-lethal policy
Seoul worries that supplying lethal weapons could provoke Moscow into giving Pyongyang more advanced capabilities, including satellite guidance, nuclear submarine technology or re-entry technology.
Key facts
- air-defence system requested
- Cheongung-II (KM-SAM)
- Cheongung-II reported range
- about 40 km
- KN-23/KN-24 reported range
- about 400-600 km
- North Korean troops in Russia
- about 20,000, mostly in the Kursk region
- Reported additional deployment
- 30,000-50,000 personnel (Zelenskyy claim, not verified)
- North Korean missile units in Voronezh
- up to 6 mobile launchers, about 120 KN-23/KN-24 missiles
- North Korean casualties
- about 6,000 killed or wounded (South Korean estimate); about 2,300 killed (BBC estimate)
- Russia-North Korea pact
- mutual defence pact signed June 2024 by Putin and Kim Jong-un
Quotes
Senior South Korean Foreign Ministry Official
Representative of South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“In my view, the Republic of Korea should have closer cooperation with Ukraine. We are open to this. We would very much like to receive support from South Korea in an area where we have a shortage. That is air defence systems.”
firstpost.com
“South Korea's supply of defence materials to any country has always been carried out in accordance with domestic law.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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