Russia Warns To Supply North Korea with Latest Weapons If South Support Ukraine

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed support for Ukraine
Russia vows to retaliate by delivering weapons to North Korea
The US leaked documents indicate that South Korea is apprehensive about helping Ukraine

As South Korea signaled that it would send military help to Ukraine, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged that North Korea be provided with the "latest" Russian weaponry.

On Wednesday, Medvedev, a vociferous backer of the Ukrainian war, said on Telegram that "new groups" had formed to "assist our adversaries."

Russia Vows to Retaliate Over South Korea's Support for Ukraine

Medvedev cited remarks made earlier this week by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who warned that "large-scale" Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilians would change Seoul's long-held objection to giving deadly help to Ukraine.

Yoon stated that there would be "no limitations" on support to "defend and restore a country that has been illegally invaded both under international and domestic law" before adding that Seoul would take the "most appropriate measures" based on "our relationship with the parties engaged in the war and developments on the battlefield."

Per Newsweek via MSN, Kremlin promptly slammed the remarks, calling them "very hostile." According to South Korean media, Seoul's presidential office then stated that it would not "comment on the Kremlin's words on a hypothetical circumstance."

South Korea, a significant producer of artillery shells, has walked a tight path during Ukraine's continuing conflict. China has agreed to provide humanitarian help to Kyiv but is apprehensive of jeopardizing its ties with Russia, which is suspected of assisting North Korea.

Concerns about Moscow possibly assisting Pyongyang with its nuclear weapons development have affected Seoul's reluctance to offer military help to Ukraine. In response to this issue, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that any arms sales to Ukraine would be scrutinized "as openly hostile anti-Russian activity," which would "harm bilateral ties."

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry accepted the words without identifying Medvedev but played them down by hinting that Russia's military capability had significantly been damaged due to its invasion of Ukraine and would soon only be able to dispatch old World War II-era tanks.

As per Jerusalem Post, Dimitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, also replied to Yoon's words, warning that deadly supplies would increase South Korea's involvement in the war. The shift in posture comes not just before Yoon's travel to the United States but also due to the release of Pentagon intelligence papers revealing South Korea's reluctance to deliver weaponry to Ukraine in the face of American pressure.

According to leaked documents, South Korean senior presidential advisers were apprehensive about supplying artillery rounds straight to Ukraine. According to the experts, South Korea, a significant manufacturer of artillery shells, might transfer them to Poland instead to maintain the illusion of neutrality.

Seoul agreed to supply shells to the US in 2022 on the condition that they not be transported to Ukraine. The US revealed a new security package for Ukraine on Wednesday, which includes 155mm and 105mm artillery shells.

From the start of the conflict, the United States has given over 1,500,000 155mm rounds, 7,000 precision guided 155mm artillery rounds, 155mm Remote Anti-Armor Mine rounds, 50,000 152mm rounds, 40,000 130mm rounds, 40,000 122mm rounds, 450,000 105mm rounds.

Per Korea Times, this is not the first time Moscow has expressed concern about South Korea's potential military assistance to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated last year that if South Korea equips Ukraine, the relationship between the two countries will be ruined, implying how South Korea would react if Russia restarted collaboration with North Korea.

South Korea Intensifies Ties with US, EU

Given this context, Yoon's words are regarded as the result of the South Korean government's judgment that the benefits of responding to US and European appeals for military assistance outweigh the benefits of maintaining tepid ties with Russia.

Russia has recently signaled deeper ties with North Korea as part of its resistance to the US-led organization. By drawing a line in its relations with Russia, Seoul can have more power in convincing the international community to increase its efforts to resist Pyongyang's nuclear and missile aspirations.

Increases in South Korean military sector exports to NATO countries might potentially be one of the benefits examined by Yoon. South Korea has been increasing its ties with the treaty organization since Yoon assumed office last year.

The president is touting the defense industry as a critical export engine for the country. South Korean military firms are striking lucrative export deals with European governments in this context.

On the other hand, South Korea's economic relations with Russia are in a downward spiral. According to the Korea International Trade Association, South Korea's commerce with Russia will be $21.14 billion in 2022, a 22.7 percent decrease from the previous year. Exports fell 36.6 percent yearly to $6.33 billion, and the trade imbalance has persisted since 2009.

@YouTube