Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea against supplying weapons to Ukraine, saying it would be a “very big mistake.” Putin made the comments at a press conference during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday. Photo of the Kremlin swimming pool: Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/EPA-EFE
SEOUL, June 21 (UPI) — Russian President Vladimir Putin warned South Korea against directly supplying weapons to Ukraine for its battle against Moscow’s invasion, saying it would be a “very big mistake.”
Putin made the comment when a member of the Russian media asked him about the possibility of Seoul sending weapons during a state visit to Vietnam on Thursday.
“As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, it would be a very big mistake,” Putin said. “I hope this does not happen. If this happens, then we too will make appropriate decisions that probably will not please the current leaders of South Korea.”
The Russian president added that Moscow does not rule out supplying weapons to North Korea to counter “acts of aggression” by Washington and Seoul.
“I said, even in Pyongyang, that we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world,” Putin said. “Given our agreements with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, I do not rule it out.”
The comments came after South Korea’s presidential office said Thursday it would consider sending lethal weapons to Ukraine in the wake of a treaty signed by Russia and North Korea involving a commitment to mutual military aid.
Seoul has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and sold weapons to neighboring Poland, but has stuck to a policy of not sending deadly weapons directly to any country during a conflict.
South Korea “expresses serious concern and condemns the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between North Korea and Russia,” said National Security Advisor Chang Ho-jin at a press conference.
Chang called closer ties between North Korea and Russia “concerning” and said any military assistance to the North was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
“As for arms support to Ukraine, the issue will be re-examined,” he said.
Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the treaty Wednesday night during the Russian leader’s first visit to the North since 2000.
Article 4 of the 23-point document requires each country to “provide military and other assistance without delay and by all means at its disposal” if the other is attacked and goes to war.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s top envoy in Seoul on Friday to express concerns about the pact.
First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun called Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev and “conveyed our government’s stern position on the decision to strengthen mutual military and economic cooperation,” the ministry said in a statement.
Kim “strongly urges Russia to immediately cease military cooperation with North Korea and comply with Security Council resolutions.”
Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened ties following a state visit by Kim in September, in which North Korea supplied Russia with ammunition for its war in Ukraine.
US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said earlier this week that North Korea has transferred “dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 ammunition containers to assist Russia’s war effort.”
Washington and its allies say Russia is likely providing fuel, raw materials and advanced space and weapons technology to North Korea in return.
