Donald Trump’s election victory is prompting South Korea to rethink the possibility of sending weapons directly to Ukraine, a decision that could have a big impact on the direction of the war.
President Yoon Suk Yeol now has to consider the US president-elect’s stance as it looks at whether to change its long-standing policy of not sending lethal aid to Kyiv.
Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries.
South Korea is now less likely to send munitions to Ukraine unless Pyongyang takes further action or there’s more clarity on how Trump will act on Ukraine.
“It would be pretty awkward for South Korea, not even a member of NATO, to step in at this point if Trump moves in to the White House and wants to pull out from the conflict,” said Kim Jung, a political science professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
“We will closely coordinate with our ally and partners in that process,” it said
President Yoon Suk Yeol now has to consider the US president-elect’s stance as it looks at whether to change its long-standing policy of not sending lethal aid to Kyiv.
Seoul is also looking at how Trump’s approach to the war will affect support for Ukraine among a range of countries.
South Korea is now less likely to send munitions to Ukraine unless Pyongyang takes further action or there’s more clarity on how Trump will act on Ukraine.
“It would be pretty awkward for South Korea, not even a member of NATO, to step in at this point if Trump moves in to the White House and wants to pull out from the conflict,” said Kim Jung, a political science professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
“We will closely coordinate with our ally and partners in that process,” it said
10 months ago
