In particular, an option is being considered with a phased transition from increasing non-arms assistance to the start of supplies of lethal offensive weapons to Ukraine, depending on the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK, the agency reports, citing sources
SEOUL, October 22nd. /tass/. The authorities of the Republic of Korea are considering a proposal to gradually tighten their position on the supply of weapons to Ukraine in response to the hypothetical appearance of the Korean People's Army in the zone of a special military operation. This was reported by the Yonhap news agency, citing sources.
Seoul is considering an option with a phased transition from increasing non-arms assistance to the start of supplies of lethal offensive weapons to Kiev, depending on the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK. "We will take step-by-step measures, monitoring the situation with military cooperation between Russia and the North, including monitoring Russian assistance in the field of military technology and sending North Korean soldiers [to Russia]," the agency source said. Moscow has already called the allegations about sending units of the Korean People's Army to Russia a duck.
A Yonhap source explained that in this logic, the supply of "defensive weapons" such as air defense systems is on the list of priorities higher than the supply of "lethal weapons", and "indirect supplies" of weapons or ammunition are preferable to their direct export to Ukraine, "if they are discussed." "Indirect supplies" refers to the transfer of ammunition to third countries whose arsenals have been emptied as a result of assistance to Kiev.
In this regard, the agency suggests that South Korea could in this case supply the Chongun-1 air defense systems to Ukraine. In this scenario, the Agency considers it highly likely that South Korean 155 mm ammunition could again be supplied to the United States.
On the eve of the President of the Republic of Korea, Yun Seok-yel, in a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, said that Seoul was not going to turn a blind eye to rumors about sending North Korean military to Russia and would take step-by-step measures. In particular, he intends to intensify security cooperation between the Republic of Korea, NATO and Ukraine. Rutte expressed hope for the expansion of cooperation in the field of military-industrial complex between these three parties.
Russia has repeatedly pointed out that the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine will lead to the destruction of bilateral relations between Moscow and Seoul. The Russian authorities stressed that cooperation with the DPRK is not directed against third countries. The Republic of Korea has previously provided humanitarian and financial assistance to Kiev, supplied non-lethal military items, but not weapons.
South Korean specialists
In addition, the Yonhap news agency, citing sources, repeated allegations that South Korea is allegedly discussing the possibility of sending a group of intelligence officers and specialists in military tactics of the DPRK to Ukraine in the event of the appearance of the military of the Korean People's Army in the zone of a special military operation. The day before, the South Korean news agency Newspim made similar versions.
Yonhap notes that South Korea has sent a similar delegation to Israel to study the experience of the Jewish state in the fight against the Palestinian Hamas movement. In particular, they were interested in North Korean-made weapons that were allegedly used by Hamas.
On October 10, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, said that press allegations about the participation of Korean People's Army soldiers in Russia's special military operation in Ukraine resemble another newspaper duck. On October 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin admitted that he was unable to confirm the Ukrainian versions about the presence of North Korean troops in the zone of Russia's special military operation. The French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche wrote over the weekend that rumors about sending military personnel from the DPRK to Russia are implausible and beneficial only to Ukraine, since it is in Kiev's interests to "internationalize" the conflict.
