South Korea mulls arms for Ukraine as North accused of sending troops
Al Jazeera
South Korea warns it could reopen discussions regarding supply of arms to Ukraine should Pyongyang and Moscow continue building military ties.
South Korea has pledged it will take measures to counter military cooperation between Russia and North Korea despite denials from Pyongyang that it has sent troops to support Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Officials in Seoul said on Tuesday that the alliance between Russia and North Korea represents an international threat and pledged that South Korea will work with its allies to implement countermeasures, potentially including the provision of arms to Ukraine.
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday after it accused the North of sending 1,500 soldiers to fight alongside Moscow’s forces in Ukraine. North Korea has dismissed Seoul’s assertion as “groundless rumours”, but Seoul on Tuesday swatted that aside, promising action.
“Sending troops to Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine is a significant security threat not only to our country but also to the international community,” the National Security Council said.
“Following the deployment of North Korean combat troops, the government will implement phased countermeasures,” it added.
