Ukraine Special Envoy Team Likely to Visit President Yoon Today to Request Weapons Support

Special Envoy Delegation Led by Ukrainian Defense Minister Visits South Korea
Expected to Share North Korean Military Intelligence and Request Weapons

On July 11 (local time), President Yoon Suk-yeol, attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the Korea-Japan-Australia-New Zealand four-country (IP4) and Ukraine summit held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA. Photo by Yonhap News

A special envoy team led by the Ukrainian Minister of Defense is expected to visit the Yongsan Presidential Office to meet President Yoon Seok-yeol as early as the 27th. They are anticipated to share information about the Russia-Ukraine war involving North Korean troops and request weapons support.

Earlier, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing anonymous sources, reported that the special envoy team led by Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, is expected to meet with Korean officials as early as the 27th and present a list of weapons they wish to receive support for.

The Presidential Office has previously stated a policy that, following North Korea's deployment of combat troops to Russia, it may provide not only defensive but also offensive weapons to Ukraine. The Ukrainian special envoy team recently visited Korea and is expected to continue related discussions with President Yoon on that day.

At a national press conference on the 7th, President Yoon said, "Depending on the degree of North Korean military involvement, we need to adjust our support methods for Ukraine step by step," adding, "We do not exclude the possibility of weapons support."

On the 25th (local time), Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Andrii Syvokha, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Fauci, Italy, to discuss support for Ukraine.

Minister Cho stated, "The Korean government will take effective measures step by step in response to the advancement of Russia-North Korea military cooperation and the threats to our security."

Minister Syvokha expressed hope to closely share information with Korea to respond to future Russia-North Korea cooperation and said he expects the Ukrainian special envoy to visit Korea soon to continue related consultations.

However, there are concerns that if offensive weapons support is actually provided, the situation on the Korean Peninsula could rapidly deteriorate, as Russia is reacting sensitively to Korea's weapons support for Ukraine.

According to TASS news agency, Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, said on the 24th, "Korea must realize that if Korean-made weapons are used to kill Russian citizens, relations between the two countries could be completely destroyed."