South Korea Considers Arming Ukraine in Response to North Korea’s Troop Deployment to Russia

South Korea may alter its longstanding stance on military aid, possibly sending weapons to Ukraine after North Korea deployed troops to Russia—a development South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol criticized as a threat to "global security beyond the Korean Peninsula and Europe." In response, Yoon indicated South Korea would not “sit idle,” leaving open the possibility of sending defensive and offensive weaponry to Ukraine. His comments followed discussions with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who visited Seoul for a summit focused on security concerns and strengthening defense ties.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin corroborated North Korea’s deployment, describing it as a “very serious issue.” South Korea’s intelligence chief later reported that North Korea had sent 3,000 troops, including elite forces, to support Russian military operations and intends to increase this number to 10,000 by December. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also revealed that since mid-2023, North Korea has supplied Russia with over 13,000 containers of artillery and missiles, raising concerns that North Korea is also sending personnel to bolster Russian lines in the ongoing war​

Yoon expressed interest in supplying more South Korean arms, including a planned $7 billion K2 tank deal with Poland, which shares borders with Ukraine. Though South Korea has provided indirect support to Ukraine through U.S. and NATO allies, Yoon indicated that North Korea's actions might push South Korea to reconsider its “principle of not directly supplying lethal weapons.” Analysts note that North Korean troops may initially serve in a supportive role within Russia, with the potential for direct engagement as training progresses. Despite Moscow’s denial, Yoon Sukjoon, a former South Korean navy officer, suggested that this shift would strengthen Ukraine’s appeals for Western aid​

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun expressed grave concerns, labeling North Korean soldiers “cannon fodder mercenaries” in an “illegal war of aggression.” Moscow has cautioned South Korea against intervention, with Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warning of consequences for South Korea’s security if it contributes directly to Ukraine’s defense.

South Korea Considers Arming Ukraine in Response to North Korea’s Troop Deployment to Russia