A recent survey has found that a vast majority of South Koreans oppose transferring weapons and military equipment to Ukraine despite North Korea’s alleged involvement in the war.
According to an October poll conducted by Seoul-based research firm Gallup Korea, around 82 percent of respondents are against providing direct military support to Kyiv, including the supply of lethal weapons to counter Russian aggression.
This despite most South Koreans viewing the growing military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow as a significant threat.
The depth of this opposition was made evident earlier this week when a group of protesters gathered in front of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office during the visit of a Ukrainian delegation seeking arms support.
“No to the South Korean government planning arms supply to Ukraine,” the group declared.
‘Fewer Benefits’
Yang Uk, an analyst at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, explained that the low support for arms shipments to Ukraine reflects that the public is largely not sensitive to the seriousness of the war.
It could also indicate that most South Koreans are more concerned about the potential downsides of providing direct support to the war-ravaged nation.
“To the South Korean government, there will be fewer benefits for continuing to support when there is little domestic support and the relationship with the next US government could deteriorate,” he stated.
Seoul has considered the possibility of supplying lethal weapons to Kyiv following reports that North Korean soldiers are assisting Moscow’s forces on the frontline.
Pyongyang has also reportedly sent weapons, including ballistic missiles and rocket systems, to Russia in an effort to counter Western aid to Ukraine.
Russia’s Warning
In response to potential South Korean military aid to Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko warned Seoul to “soberly assess” the situation and avoid taking “reckless” actions.
He stated that any use of South Korean weapons to kill Russian citizens would sever relations between the two countries.
“I hope that the administration of the Republic of Korea will be guided primarily by long-term national interests, and not by short-term opportunistic considerations prompted from outside,” Rudenko said.
