Never has a South Korean president been to Ukraine. It’s been done since Saturday. After meeting Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit, Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to “scale up” his humanitarian aid and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine.
Seoul “will increase the scale of support provided last year, when we provided materials such as helmets and bulletproof vests,” Yoon Suk Yeol said. Her country’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine will increase from $100 million in 2022 to $150 million in 2023, she added.
“Today, during this first visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine in the history of our relations, we talked about everything that is important for people to lead a normal and safe life,” said Volodymyr Zelensky, adding: “ Thank you for these meaningful talks. Thank you for your strong support.”
Volodymyr Zelensky also thanked Yoon Suk Yeol “for his new initiatives in providing financial, technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine,” without elaborating. The Ukrainian president also welcomed the transfer of demining vehicles and equipment that “help us save lives.”
Seoul will not supply weapons
South Korea, the world’s ninth-biggest arms exporter, sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and also sold tanks and howitzers to Poland, a key Kiev ally against Russian forces.
However, the Asian country has a long-standing policy of not supplying arms to conflict regions, despite repeated pleas from the United States, European allies and Ukraine itself for more significant aid.
South Korea, which remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea, produces large volumes of NATO-compliant weapons, including tanks, howitzers and highly sought-after munitions.
“Ukraine reminds me of the old South Korea”
During his surprise visit to Ukraine, the South Korean president visited the town of Boutcha, the scene of a massacre of civilians attributed to the Russian army, before meeting his Ukrainian counterpart.
“Ukraine today reminds me of the old South Korea,” Yoon Suk Yeol said, praising the international aid that enabled his country to “win a miraculous victory” over the North and become one of the world’s leading economies.
The Korean president has hinted that he may reconsider his policy of not supplying lethal weapons after the president’s office indicated earlier this year that a large-scale Russian attack on civilians could be a game changer.
In May, South Korea denied US media reports of future missile deliveries to Ukraine and said its decision not to deliver lethal weapons to kyiv remained unchanged.
Experts point out, however, that South Korea is in a delicate position due to its economic ties with Russia (its 15th largest trading partner in 2022) as well as Moscow’s influence over North Korea.
Source: BFM TV
