Yoon: "Support for Ukraine's Lethal Weapons to Be Flexibly Reviewed Based on North Korean Military Activities"

"Stepwise Ukraine Support if North Sends Special Forces"
Some Discordance Over Korean-Style Nuclear Power Export
Yoon "Expect Cooperation"... Poland "Led by Private Sector"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is answering questions from the press during the joint Korea-Poland press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol said on the 24th that the principle of "not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine" could be flexibly reviewed depending on the military cooperation situation between Russia and North Korea. This is interpreted as meaning that if North Korea's deployment of combat troops to Ukraine becomes full-scale, South Korea may consider providing lethal weapons to Ukraine.

President Yoon made this remark during a joint press conference with Poland at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon, in response to a Polish reporter's question asking, "Does South Korea intend to support Ukraine with its excellent weapons?"

President Yoon said, "We have been providing support to Ukraine from a humanitarian perspective," adding, "However, if North Korea dispatches special forces to the Ukraine war based on Russia-North Korea cooperation, we will support Ukraine step by step and review and implement necessary measures for security on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "As a general principle, we have held the stance of not directly supplying lethal weapons, but we can review this more flexibly depending on the activities of the North Korean military."

Earlier, the Presidential Office criticized North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war during a briefing on the 22nd, and stated that the South Korean government could provide "offensive weapons" to Ukraine depending on the future phased development of the situation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands with Polish President Andrzej Duda after a joint press conference between Korea and Poland at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon also expressed hope that nuclear power cooperation with Poland would be strengthened.

In response to a question about whether a Korean-style nuclear power plant could be built in Poland, President Yoon said, "Currently, we are discussing all possibilities, including research and development (R&D) throughout the entire nuclear power cycle, in a very fundamental area," adding, "Cooperation between the two countries will become more concrete once Poland establishes specific plans."

He added, "At present, research and development cooperation will be carried out based on various memorandums of understanding (MOUs) related to science, technology, and energy cooperation."

However, President Duda drew a line by saying, "The nuclear power plant currently planned to be built in Konin is a nuclear power project led by private companies," and "There is not much that the Polish government or the president can influence."

President Duda said, "Building a nuclear power plant in Poland is essential to actively respond to climate change," but also stated, "The Polish government is actively cooperating with the United States, especially Westinghouse, for nuclear power plant construction."