우크라 방공망 지원 요청에 외교부 신중…“살상무기 배제 원칙 유지”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought support from South Korea for the implementation of air defense systems, according to diplomatic channels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 10th that our assistance to countries comes in compliance with relevant national laws and policies. The government maintains its stance of not supporting Ukraine with weapons that can cause casualties.

During an interview with a local broadcaster on the 9th, Zelenskyy expressed his desire for South Korean support in the area of air defense systems, including drone transactions. The Ukrainian President also noted that diplomatic contacts between the two nations are ongoing. In response, foreign ministry officials stated they are unable to confirm the details of communication through diplomatic channels, but emphasized that Ukraine has received support from South Korea in various sectors such as energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education, and will continue to review options for Ukraine's peace recovery and reconstruction.

Both the Patriot missile system and drones fall under the category of weapons that cause casualties. The foreign ministry spokesperson reiterated that the policy of not providing support for weapons that can cause casualties remains unchanged. The situation in Ukraine is exacerbated by the prolonged conflict with the United States and Iran, leading to a shortage of missile defense systems in the Middle East.

Additionally, Zelenskyy announced the decision to deploy 30,000-50,000 North Korean troops to Russian territory. The foreign ministry officials stated that military cooperation with North Korea is directly related to national security and violates the UN Security Council resolution. The government firmly opposes North Korean military cooperation and remains vigilant on the issue. However, they could not provide further information due to the sensitive nature of the matter.