Russia warns Korea on arming Ukraine

President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested in a media interview Wednesday that Korea could provide military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia if there is a large-scale attack on its civilians.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks in an interview with Reuters at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul on Tuesday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested in an interview that Korea could provide military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia if there is a large-scale attack on its civilians, remarks immediately criticized by the Kremlin on Wednesday.

A senior presidential official told reporters Wednesday that Yoon’s “answer comes with a precondition” when asked if the president’s remarks to Reuters marked a shift in Korea’s stance of not providing lethal aid to countries at war.

Yoon told Reuters in an interview published earlier Wednesday that if “there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or a serious violation of the laws of war, it may be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support.”

“I believe you can understand the answer as it is,” added the official.

This marked Yoon’s first suggestion that Korea is willing to provide weapons to Ukraine, breaking with the existing policy against providing lethal aid to countries at war.

When a reporter noted that Russia’s war on Ukraine already included such attacks on civilians and violations of international law, the official said that it’s “important to evaluate the situation.”

Responding to Yoon’s interview with Reuters, the Kremlin said Wednesday that if Korea supplied military aid to Ukraine, it would mean Seoul is becoming involved in the Ukrainian conflict.

A Kremlin spokesperson told reporters that Korea has taken an “unfriendly” stance toward Russia and said that such support would be interpreted as an “intervention” in the conflict.

The interview came ahead of Yoon’s state visit to the United States next week for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.

The lethal arms issue became a hot topic recently after leaked classified Pentagon documents indicated that U.S. intelligence authorities may have been spying on Korea’s deliberations on supplying ammunition to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

According to one top secret document leaked on social media, a Korean senior presidential official had been allegedly worried that the United States would pressure Korea to change its existing policy against providing lethal aid to countries at war and was mulling sending ammunition to Poland for possible transfer to Ukraine.

Likewise, the official, when asked if there was any reaction expected from Russia to Yoon’s remarks, the official said, “I will not give answers based on expectations.”

Yoon also told Reuters that Seoul plans to step up its surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence analysis capability and will develop “ultra-high-performance, high-power weapons” to better defend against the North’s threats.

This comes after North Korea launched its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) last Thursday.

Yoon said in the interview regarding North Korea’s evolving threats that if a nuclear war breaks out between the two Koreas, “this is probably not just a problem between the two sides, but all of Northeast Asia would probably turn to ashes.”

Yoon said he will seek “tangible outcomes” for the allies to improve their responses to evolving threats from North Korea in his upcoming summit with Biden.

In turn, Yoon also said that he has no plan to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un just to “show off” to voters for domestic political interests but that he is open to dialogue.

The presidential office, in a press briefing Wednesday, elaborated on Yoon’s remarks on strengthening South Korea’s weapons systems, including the development of the counterattack and strike capabilities of the so-called “three-axis system.”

The three-axis defense system is comprised of the Kill Chain preemptive strike system; the Korean Air and Missile Defense system, which would destroy incoming missiles; and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation plan, which would target North Korea’s leadership and military command.

Yoon also said the allies are currently focusing on bilateral measures to strengthen information-sharing, joint contingency planning and joint execution of plans when asked if Korea and the United States are envisioning an Asian version of NATO’s security alliance, also involving Japan.

On this issue, the official said, “NATO is conducting collective defense in its own way, and although it is not necessarily comparable to NATO, it is natural for us to also respond to risk factors for our security.”

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]