<기사제목>Presidential Office: "Prior Sharing of US Approval for Ukraine Long-Range Missiles... Focus on National Interest in Korea-China Relations" (Comprehensive)

"We don't need to participate directly"
"Need to supplement to enhance Ukraine's defense capability"

President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Peru and the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in Brazil, is greeting before boarding Air Force One, his official aircraft, at the 2nd Air Force Base in Lima, Peru, on the 17th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Presidential Office stated on the 18th (local time) that the South Korean government had been informed in advance about the U.S. government's decision to use the long-range missile 'ATACMS' capable of striking Russian mainland in Ukraine.

A senior official from the Presidential Office, speaking to reporters at the press center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the G20 summit is being held, responded to a question about whether the U.S. had shared the approval information for ATACMS use in advance by saying, "They notify us of such matters beforehand." The official added, "When the U.S. makes a decision, they inform us in advance, but since our country does not need to directly participate or take action on this issue, we only share the U.S. decision."

Regarding the issue of military support for Ukraine, the official indicated that the situation will be closely monitored and responses will be made accordingly. The senior official said, "If Russia and North Korea continue to ignore the international community's recommendations and do not cease cooperation in the Ukraine war, it will be necessary to supplement Ukraine's ability to defend itself," adding, "NATO, the U.S., and South Korea, as a U.S. ally, also need to pay closer attention and care to this issue going forward."

"No Decision Yet on Ukraine Military Support Plan"

However, regarding specific military support plans, it was stated that NATO and the Biden administration are currently handling the situation, and South Korea will make a judgment after receiving the Ukrainian special envoy delegation first. While military systems necessary for the South Korea-U.S. alliance can be exchanged, no decisions have been made yet with Ukraine in mind, and no concrete discussions have started.

In response to questions about prospects for ending the Ukraine war with a Trump re-election and the South Korean government's strategy accordingly, the official said, "Even if talks begin to reach a peace agreement, the current occupied territories are important, so Russia and Ukraine are doing their best in battle before the end of the year." He continued, "It is not a policy issue at this time," adding, "Since it is easy to predict that the remaining unpredictability will lead to intensified battles within about two months, South Korea will seriously review the situation with allied countries, share information, and make judgments."

President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the South Korea-China summit at a hotel in Lima, Peru, on the 15th (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

"No Change in South Korea-China Diplomatic Policy... Not a Shift to Pragmatic Diplomacy"

Additionally, a senior official from the Presidential Office spoke about the recently perceived changes in South Korea-China relations following a potential Trump re-election, stating that there is no change in the diplomatic policy prioritizing national interests.

When asked by reporters whether President Yoon Suk-yeol's statement in an interview with Brazilian media that "the U.S. and China are not a matter of choice for South Korea" implied a change in diplomatic strategy, the official said, "Our strategy has not changed even once in the past two and a half years." Although there was analysis suggesting that the 'value diplomacy' centered on the South Korea-U.S. alliance might shift to 'pragmatic diplomacy' following President Yoon's interview remarks and the South Korea-China summit after two years on the 15th, the official dismissed this as "not correct."

The official who mentioned "Our strategy has not changed even once in the past two and a half years" emphasized, "Our diplomacy prioritizes national interests, which includes securing security on one hand and economic benefits on the other. In seeking transparent, consistent, and predictable partners, it so happens that those countries tend to share values of freedom and democracy."

Regarding future South Korea-China relations strategy, the official explained, "Continuing high-level consultations and communication is most important," adding, "China is a country with a party-centered, unified socialist decision-making process, so once decisions are made at the top, they are implemented swiftly." The official said, "Activation of high-level government dialogues tends to lead to improved relations," and added, "It is encouraging that high-level talks have become faster, more frequent, and deeper since May, and going forward, the two countries will achieve concrete results in free trade negotiations, trade cooperation, and human and cultural exchanges."