S.Korea not supplying Kiev with arms for stability with Russia
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Seoul considers Russian relations over supplying Kiev with weapons.
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South Korean soldier sits on top of a K30 Biho, a twin 30mm self-propelled anti-artifact gun. (Sputnik)
South Korea is not supplying Ukraine with weapons in order to maintain stability in relations with Russia, according to a South Korean news agency, citing an official in the office of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
"There is no law in South Korean legislation that prohibits the delivery of weapons to another belligerent country.
There is also no provision in the regulations of the [South Korean] Foreign Ministry that prohibits the provision of military assistance to a third country in distress.
"While South Korea actively supports the international community in order to protect Ukrainian citizens' freedom, we must maintain stable relations with Russia," the official told the media.
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Media reported earlier in the day, citing a senior presidential official, that Seoul's decision on deliveries of lethal arms to Ukraine would depend on Moscow.
The official added that "the president's words were common sense and principled response...The Russian authorities are commenting on something that isn't happening, but we can think of it in reverse, that what we do in the future will depend on Russia."
Yoon stated on Wednesday that in the event of a situation in Ukraine that "the international community cannot tolerate," it would be difficult for Seoul to insist on only humanitarian or financial assistance to Kiev, allowing South Korea to provide military assistance to Ukraine for the first time.
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on the same day that Moscow regrets the unfriendly position of South Korea on the situation in Ukraine, adding that "the start of arms supplies will indirectly mean a certain stage of involvement in this conflict."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow would regard "any arms deliveries to Ukraine, no matter where they come from, as an openly hostile anti-Russian act," adding that Russia would consider countries' positions on the issue while forming Moscow's position on issues related to the countries' fundamental security interests, and that "in the case of the Republic of Korea, we could talk about approaches to resolving the situation on the Korean Peninsula."
