South Korea minister’s Ukraine remarks leave ‘shrinking wiggle room’ in US-Russia balance

South Korea’s defence minister recently shared a ‘private’ view that he sees the need to provide ‘full support’ to Ukraine, further straining ties with Russia

His comments will weigh on Seoul’s ability to balance its alliance with Washington amid the Pyongyang threat, while preventing more tensions with Moscow, analysts say

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Members of the military intelligence unit of Ukraine’s Armed Forces train at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on January 29. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 5:00pm, 31 Jan 2024

As the Ukraine war rages on, South Korea finds itself navigating challenging terrain as it grapples with the delicate balance between its alliance with the United States and the strained ties with Russia, analysts said.

Its tensions with Moscow are likely to deepen further due to Washington’s ongoing pressure for Seoul to supply weapons to Kyiv, but South Korea may have to bear this cost as it is heavily reliant on the US for its defence against nuclear-armed North Korea, observers added.

In a local press interview earlier this month, South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik said he “privately” saw a need to offer “full support” to Ukraine, warning Russia against supporting the North’s weapons development.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East on September 13, 2023. Photo: Kremlin Pool via AP

Nevertheless, Shin said he agreed with Seoul’s principle that it would not send lethal weapons to a country at war and supported the government’s policy of providing only humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine.

However, Shin’s remarks caused a palpable downturn in diplomatic relations with Russia, pushing them to a new low.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday rejected US claims of military cooperation with the North, accusing Washington of fabricating the narrative to gain greater support from South Korea, a major weapons producer, in the Ukraine war.

“We firmly reject any attempts by the United States and its satellite countries to make baseless accusations against our country … We would like to caution Seoul against imprudent steps that could lead to a complete breakdown of once-friendly relations with Russia,” she said.