South Korea Is Reconsidering Weapons Ban for Ukraine Amid North Korea’s Support of Russia

South Korea may reconsider its stance on supplying arms to Ukraine amid growing cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, President Yoon Suk Yeol stated at a November 7 press conference.

"Now, depending on the level of North Korean involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy in phases," Yoon explained. "This means we are not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons."

Previously, Yoon suggested that Seoul could review its policy against direct military aid to active warzone if circumstances warrant.

Yoon noted that "defensive weapons" would be prioritized if arms were provided. However, a source in the Presidential Office told Yonhap news agency that a direct supply of 155 mm artillery shells is "currently not on the table."

While South Korea has offered humanitarian and non-lethal aid to Ukraine, it has refrained from supplying weapons due to legislative constraints. Last year, media reports alleged that South Korea had covertly sent artillery shells to Ukraine via the US, but these claims were denied by the South Korean government.

Previously, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed on November 5 that Ukrainian forces have engaged in combat with North Korean troops for the first time following Pyongyang’s deployment of forces to assist Russia. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there are currently 11,000 North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region.