South Korea is considering providing weapons to Ukraine on a “step-by-step” basis as a warning to Russia following North Korea’s deployment of troops to aid Moscow’s war in the region, a senior presidential official indicated Tuesday, marking a major shift from Seoul's previous policy of non-lethal support. Notably, the administration appeared to reframe the discourse around lethal weapons, with the official describing it as an "emotionally charged" term while emphasizing that all weapons' effects depend on their intended use. 

The announcement followed the convening of an emergency National Security Council meeting where officials discussed both “defensive and offensive” weapons options. Seoul also reportedly plans to dispatch a “monitoring team” to Ukraine, potentially including military personnel to study combat tactics. The presidential office pushed back against Moscow's claims that Russia-North Korea cooperation poses no threat to ROK security, specifically citing concerns about potential technology transfers that could be used against the South.