Ukraine war: Zelensky cites Korean War in appeal to Seoul for anti-aircraft weapons to ‘stand up against invaders’
- Seoul earlier rejected a request to send weapons to Ukraine saying its aid was confined to non-lethal materials
- South Korea has in recent years boosted arms exports and a military expert said Ukraine wants the Cheongung ground-to-air missiles that can engage incoming aircraft and ballistic missile targets
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday urged South Korea to supply the war-torn country with military hardware including anti-air weaponry to help save the lives of Ukrainians and stop Russia from attacking other nations.
“Ukraine needs aircraft, tanks and other military hardware,” he said in a 15-minute video address to South Korean lawmakers.
“South Korea has various weapons that are required to protect us from Russian tanks, ships and missiles,” he said through an interpreter.
Earlier, a South Korean defence ministry official said the country had turned down a Ukrainian request for anti-aircraft weaponry because of its “principled stance” on not providing lethal hardware.
“The Ukrainian defence minister asked for weapons for air defence and Minister Suh politely repeated the South Korean government’s principled stance that its aid is confined to non-lethal materials,” he told This Week in Asia.