Russia warns South Korea against arming Ukraine in ‘unfriendly stance’, threatens retaliation involving North Korea
- Seoul has only provided humanitarian help to Ukraine, but President Yoon Suk Yeol said that might change if there is a ‘large-scale attack on civilians’
- Kremlin said the start of arms supplies would mean indirect involvement in Ukraine conflict and threatened to reciprocate by sending weapons to North Korea
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
Russia on Wednesday warned South Korea against sending weapons to Ukraine after Seoul opened the door to possible military aid to Kyiv in the event of a large-scale civilian attack.
An ally of Washington, Seoul has provided non-lethal and humanitarian help to Ukraine, but has so far ruled out military aid.
But South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol told Reuters on Wednesday that “if there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians … it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support”.
Putin visits forces in occupied Ukraine as G7 condemns nuclear plan
The Kremlin said the start of arms supplies would mean indirect involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
“Unfortunately Seoul has taken a rather unfriendly stance,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“The start of arms supplies will indirectly mean a certain stage of involvement in this conflict,” he added.
The remarks also drew a warning from Russia’s ex-leader Dmitry Medvedev, who served as president between 2008 and 2012.
Medvedev said that Moscow could reciprocate and send weapons to North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“I wonder what the residents of this country will say when they see the latest Russian arms with their closest neighbours – our partners from the DPRK,” he added. “Quid pro quo …”
