Vladimir Putin has cautioned South Korea against arming Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, stating that it would be a “significant error.” His remarks follow Seoul’s consideration of such a move, prompted by a new alliance between Russia and North Korea, which pledges mutual assistance in case of “aggression” against either nation.
Addressing reporters on Thursday in Vietnam, shortly after a lavish visit to Pyongyang where he inked a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Putin remarked that Moscow would take actions “unlikely to please the current leadership of South Korea” if Seoul proceeds with supplying arms to Kyiv.
South Korea had earlier denounced the agreement as a threat to its national security. National security adviser Chang Ho-jin indicated that the country intended to reassess its stance on providing military support to Ukraine.
Following Putin’s statement, South Korea’s presidential office stated on Friday that it would explore “various options” regarding arms supply to Ukraine, with its decision contingent on Russia’s approach to the matter. Diplomatic sources revealed that South Korean authorities are expected to summon Russia’s ambassador to lodge a protest.
While South Korea has offered humanitarian aid and military equipment to Ukraine, it has refrained from supplying lethal weapons, adhering to its official policy against arming countries engaged in warfare.
There have been expectations in Ukraine that the burgeoning military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang would prompt Seoul to reconsider its position. Analysts had anticipated that Kyiv would leverage Putin’s visit to Pyongyang to increase pressure.
During the visit, Kim pledged “full support” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. There are indications that Russia has already deployed North Korean missiles in Ukraine.
On Friday, John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, expressed concern over the Russian-North Korean agreement, emphasizing its potential impact on regional peace and stability.
He added that the agreement was “no surprise”, saying that the US had been warning about the two countries’ “burgeoning defence relationship” for many months.
Tokyo said it was “seriously concerned that President Putin did not rule out military technology co-operation with North Korea”, Japan’s government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said, adding that the agreement was “unacceptable”.
Analysts have highlighted that the treaty could carry significant implications not only for the region but also for the global landscape. In addition to the prospect of North Korea openly supplying arms to Russia, it raises concerns about potential Russian intervention in any new conflict on the Korean peninsula.
The two Koreas remain technically at war and maintain a heavily fortified border, where tensions have escalated in recent weeks.
In a separate development on Thursday, North Korean troops briefly crossed the border, retreating after South Korea fired warning shots, as per authorities in Seoul on Friday.
This incident marks the third such occurrence in less than three weeks. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff had previously suggested that the two earlier incidents, on June 9th and June 18th, appeared to be unintentional.