Russia-North Korea military pact prompts Seoul to threaten arms to Ukraine

Experts say such moves would prompt significant strategic shifts. Seoul’s threatened provision of lethal aid to Ukraine could help Kyiv achieve a “breakthrough” in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Conversely, Moscow’s threats to arm North Korea could escalate regional tensions and provoke a military response from the South and its allies.

South Korean national security adviser Chang Ho-jin issued a fresh warning to Russia on Sunday against crossing a “red line” by supplying “high-precision weapons” to North Korea.

Putin brushed off Seoul’s response, saying on Thursday “South Korea has nothing to worry about”.

But he also warned the South against supplying weapons to Kyiv, saying it would “be a very big mistake”.

Putin has threatened to arm North Korea and other countries should Western countries continue providing military aid to Ukraine.

Chang didn’t specify the types of weapons that South Korea might provide to Ukraine.

Political science professor Park Won-gon of the Ewha Woman’s University said the lethal weapons the South could supply to Ukraine include its much-touted Chunmoo multiple rocket launch systems, K9 howitzers and K2 tanks.

“In terms of the impact on the course of the war, the North’s supply of ammunition to Russia would pale in comparison if the South provides Ukraine with lethal weapons, which would help Ukraine make a breakthrough in the war,” he told This Week in Asia.

Suwon University Professor Ilya Belyakov said Putin was resorting to his typical “bluffing” tactics toward South Korea and the West.

“Russia has kept back-pedalling in its threats against the West as it has become mired in an endless war in Ukraine. It has nothing much in the way of punishing South Korea,” he said.

But Russia could provide the