South Korea does not rule out the possibility of providing weapons to Ukraine in light of the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, stated South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at a press conference on November 7, as reported by kyivindependent.com.
"Now, depending on the level of North Korea's involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy step by step," Yoon Suk-yeol commented to journalists.
"This means that we do not exclude the possibility of providing weapons," he emphasized.
Russian-North Korean relations have reached a new level as Pyongyang sent approximately 12,000 troops to participate in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Earlier, the South Korean president stated that in response, Seoul might reconsider its ban on providing direct military assistance to the combat zone.
South Korea has provided Ukraine with humanitarian and non-lethal aid but has refrained from supplying weapons, citing legislative restrictions.
Some media outlets claimed last year that the country secretly supplied artillery shells to Ukraine through the United States, although the South Korean government denied this information.
Due to the constantly tense relations with its North Korean neighbor, South Korea has developed a powerful military and a robust defense industry, making it a major arms exporter.
It remains unclear what types of weapon systems South Korea is considering for Ukraine, although Yoon noted that "defensive weapons" would be a priority.
A source in the South Korean presidential office told Yonhap that direct supplies of 155mm artillery shells are not currently under consideration.
Experts told Kyiv Independent that South Korea could provide the most significant support to Ukraine through ammunition supplies. The country not only has 155mm artillery but also 3.4 million 105mm shells compatible with some Ukrainian guns.
Ukrainian officials stated that to simply hold the front against Russian forces, 75,000 shells are needed per month. Russian troops can fire several times more shells than Ukraine, with approximately half reportedly supplied by North Korea.