By Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 12:00AM GMT Fri, June 22, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning to South Korea, cautioning that it would be making “a big mistake” if it decides to arm Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. This admonition follows Seoul’s contemplation of such a measure in response to the newly forged pact between Russia and North Korea, aimed at mutual support in the event of “aggression” against either nation.

In a press briefing on Thursday, President Putin indicated that Moscow would take retaliatory actions that would likely displease the South Korean leadership if Seoul proceeds with supplying arms to Kyiv. The remarks were made during his visit to Vietnam, shortly after a high-profile meeting in Pyongyang where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense agreement.

Putin also hinted at the possibility of arming North Korea should the United States and its allies continue their support for Ukraine. “Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us. I said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world,” he stated.

South Korea has expressed strong disapproval of the Russia-North Korea defense pact, viewing it as a direct threat to its national security. National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin mentioned that South Korea might “reconsider the issue of arms support to Ukraine” in light of the agreement.

In response to Putin’s statements, South Korea’s presidential office announced on Friday that it is evaluating “various options” regarding arms support for Ukraine, with its final decision hinging on Russia’s subsequent actions. Additionally, Seoul summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to protest the pact and demanded that Moscow “immediately ceases” its military cooperation with Pyongyang.

Historically, South Korea has provided humanitarian aid and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine but has refrained from supplying lethal weapons due to its policy of not arming nations in active conflict. The escalating military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have led some in Ukraine to hope that Seoul might reconsider its stance. Analysts suggest that Kyiv might leverage Putin’s visit to North Korea to apply further pressure on South Korea.

During the recent summit, Kim Jong Un pledged “full support” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and evidence suggests that North Korean missiles have already been deployed by Russia in the conflict. This development has raised international concerns, with US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stating that the Russia-North Korea agreement should “be of concern to any country that cares about maintaining peace and stability” in the region.

Japan has also voiced its alarm, with government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi labeling the agreement “unacceptable” and expressing serious concerns about potential military technology cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

Experts warn that the treaty could have significant global implications, including the possibility of North Korea openly supplying arms to Russia and Russia potentially intervening in any new conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The two Koreas remain technically at war, maintaining a heavily fortified border where tensions have recently escalated.

In a separate incident on Thursday, North Korean troops “briefly crossed” the border into South Korea but retreated after South Korean forces fired warning shots, marking the third such incident in less than three weeks. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff described the earlier incursions on June 9 and June 18 as likely unintentional.

For more insights on the geopolitical landscape and the evolving relations between these nations, visit our detailed analysis here.

Backlinks: South Korea Security Brief | Global Security Updates | Geopolitical Tensions Analysis