Kim Yong-hyun "Dispatch of Ukraine Observation Team Necessary for National Interest"

Attendance at National Assembly Defense Committee: "Deployment Not Considered"

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun reiterated on the 11th that dispatching an observation team to Ukraine is necessary for national interests.

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun is responding to lawmakers' questions during a comprehensive audit of all supervised agencies at the National Defense Committee held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the same day, Minister Kim appeared before the National Assembly's National Defense Committee and responded to a related question from Im Jong-deuk of the People Power Party by stating, "The observation team is different from a troop dispatch." He explained, "A troop dispatch means sending a military unit with a certain command structure. The observation team is not such a unit with a command structure and goes unarmed and non-combatant. A small number of experts will go for a short period." He added, "We are sending the observation team not at the request of a party to the war or the United Nations, but based on our own needs."

Earlier, at a press briefing held in Washington DC on the 30th of last month (local time) after the South Korea-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), Minister Kim also stated in response to questions about dispatching an observation team to Ukraine, "I want to make it clear that troop dispatch is not being considered at all," and added, "Aside from troop dispatch, monitoring teams or battlefield analysis teams are essential parts that the military or government must have in preparation for any emergency situations that may arise in the future."

He continued, "In the case of the Ukraine war, since North Korean troops are involved, we need to understand their movements," and explained, "Because Russia's weapon systems are linked with North Korean weapon systems, analyzing these and preparing properly is necessary to be ready for future situations. This will provide useful information to protect the safety of the people and the free Republic of Korea."