{"id":2200266,"date":"2023-02-27T02:41:20","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T02:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2200266"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:09:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:09:37","slug":"marking-one-year-since-russian-invasion-ukraine-asks-south-korea-to-supply-arms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/02\/marking-one-year-since-russian-invasion-ukraine-asks-south-korea-to-supply-arms\/","title":{"rendered":"Marking one year since Russian invasion, Ukraine asks South Korea to supply arms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday <\/span>urged<\/span><\/a> South Korea to provide weapons, according to Kyiv\u2019s state-run news agency Ukrinform upon the first anniversary of Russia\u2019s invasion of the country. His request comes a month after a similar remark <\/span>made<\/span><\/a> by North Atlantic Organization (NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg during his two-day visit to Seoul.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea has provided only non-lethal aid to Ukraine, <\/span>citing<\/span><\/a> its position not to supply arms to countries engaged in armed conflicts. This includes Seoul <\/span>adding<\/span><\/a> 741 more trading items subject to export restrictions against Russia on Friday and <\/span>offering<\/span><\/a> $130 million (170 billion won) in humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n

Due to domestic and geopolitical circumstances, South Korea is in a difficult position regarding providing military support to Ukraine. Domestically, Yoon risks pushing against the South Korean public\u2019s foreign policy preferences. According to a <\/span>Gallup Korea<\/span><\/a> poll last year, only 15% support weapons provision to Kyiv, while 72% support only providing non-military assistance. In an extreme scenario, the opposition Democratic Party (DP) could lead impeachment charges against Yoon for violating the <\/span>Foreign Trade Act<\/span><\/a> if he allows direct military aid to Ukraine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore<\/span><\/a>, answering Zelenskyy\u2019s request would compromise already-soured diplomatic ties with Moscow and Beijing. But at the same time, Seoul also faces pressure to prove its so-called global pivotal state status by standing with nations that share democratic values and NATO member states. South Korea\u2019s recent decision to provide additional humanitarian assistance to Ukraine while expanding export sanctions on Russia reflects such a conundrum. It shows Seoul\u2019s attempts to broaden indirect support while maintaining deniability in the face of potential pushback and retaliation from Moscow and its allies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n