South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stated on Monday that deploying an unarmed observation team to Ukraine is in the national interest, emphasizing a clear distinction from a formal troop deployment. Appearing before the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, Kim clarified that the team would serve in a strictly non-combat, advisory role, with no chain of command or weapons.

Kim also addressed the main opposition Democratic Party’s (DP) objections, which argue that such actions require parliamentary approval. He noted that, under South Korean law, sending individual personnel in non-combat roles does not violate constitutional provisions regarding foreign deployments. Kim defended the government’s position, explaining that past administrations created policies to ensure rapid response capabilities while upholding legal standards. He cautioned that the DP’s proposed legislative amendments could undermine operational agility and delay necessary actions.