South Korea 'not ruling out' sending weapons directly to Ukraine

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday that the major arms exporter is "not ruling out" breaking from its policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict by supplying arms to Ukraine, after recent reports suggesting North Korean troops could be preparing to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

South Korea is not ruling out providing weapons directly to Ukraine, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday, signaling a possible shift in Seoul's stance on the issue.

Yoon also revealed he had discussed North Korea with US president-elect Donald Trump in a phone conversation that laid the groundwork for a meeting in the "near future".

South Korea has a long-standing policy of not providing weapons to countries in conflict but indicated that could change in light of Pyongyang's deployment of troops to Russia to aid its war efforts in Ukraine.

"Now, depending on the level of North Korean involvement, we will gradually adjust our support strategy in phases," Yoon said at a press conference in Seoul.

"This means we are not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons."

(AFP)

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