Shortly after North Korea deployed troops to Russia, South Korea announced it was considering supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine, a move that would depart from its previous stance of offering only non-lethal aid.

DPRK troops’ potential to gain combat experience could help President Yoon Suk-yeol justify providing military assistance to Ukraine if he chooses to do so, but South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has strongly resisted this potential move on the grounds that it could harm ROK security.