Moscow must choose between Seoul and Pyongyang: President Yoon

President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that Russia must choose between the two Koreas as it figures out where its national interest lies in an interview published Monday ahead of his departure to the United States to attend a NATO summit in Washington.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a ceremony in Daegu to mark the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War on June 25. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that Russia must choose between the two Koreas as it figures out where its national interest lies in an interview published Monday ahead of his departure to the United States to attend a NATO summit in Washington.

Yoon told Reuters in a written interview that South Korea would decide on weapons support for Ukraine based on how a new defense pact between North Korea and Russia concluded during their leaders' bilateral summit last month played out.

He said he hopes Russia "will sensibly decide which side — the South or the North — is more important and necessary for its own interests."

Yoon stressed that the future of relations between Seoul and Moscow "depends entirely on Russia's actions" while noting that Pyongyang "is clearly a menace to the international society."

Yoon was set to depart on a five-day U.S. trip later Monday to visit the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and attend a summit for the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, and partner countries in Washington later this week.

On June 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In their new comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, the two countries vowed to come to each other's defense.

The visit and treaty came amid international suspicions that North Korea sent artillery and missiles to Russia to fuel the latter's war in Ukraine.

After the summit, South Korea's National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin expressed "grave concern" over this mutual defense treaty and warned that Seoul might consider sending arms to Ukraine.

South Korea has so far maintained its official stance of not providing lethal aid to countries at war.

On whether he would authorize providing Ukraine with weapons, Yoon told Reuters that South Korea would look at the "level and substance" of North Korea and Russia's military cooperation, which could include arms deals, transfers of military technology and assistance with strategic materials.

Russia has engaged in an "illegal" military partnership with North Korea, Yoon said, stressing that there will be a clear "negative" impact on ties with South Korea if it continues to violate UN resolutions.

Russia is one of the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council, of which South Korea is currently a nonpermanent member.

In the interview, Yoon noted that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia "poses a distinct threat and grave challenge to the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe."

South Korea will also host a cyber defense exercise involving NATO member states in September in a show of its growing partnership with the alliance, he added.

Later Monday, Yoon will visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu to pay respects to fallen veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War.

On Tuesday, Yoon will receive a security briefing on the Indo-Pacific region during a visit to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, according to the presidential office.

He heads to Washington on Wednesday for the NATO summit, where he will also hold bilateral meetings with at least five countries. Yoon, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, will attend a dinner banquet hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden later that evening.

On Thursday, he will attend the NATO summit, meet with the four Indo-Pacific NATO partner countries and speak at the NATO Public Forum's Indo-Pacific session.

Korea was invited to the NATO summit for the third consecutive year as a non-NATO partner in the Indo-Pacific region, which also includes Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

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