‘No reason to rush’: South Korea could delay aid to Ukraine after Donald Trump’s election

This is more bad news for Ukraine. Since the North Korean army sent 12,000 troops to fight alongside the Russians, South Korea seemed intent on providing military aid to Ukraine. Seoul mentioned, for example, sending officers to study North Korean strategies, or even offensive and defensive military equipment.

« If illegal military cooperation between North Korea and Russia continues, (South Korea) will not stand idly by but will respond firmly in collaboration with the international community “, Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo declared at the end of October.

Risk of reviving the conflict on the peninsula

Of the “ progressive measures » will be implemented in response to their military ties. “ We are considering supplying defensive weapons » and could “ ultimately consider offensive use », The South Korean presidential office also confided to journalists.

But this position does not gain consensus in South Korea. Park Chan-dae, head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party (center left), the main opposition group, had already declared at the end of October that arming Ukraine is “ an incredibly dangerous idea that treats people’s lives like pawns in a game of chess ».

For him, the South Korean president “ should not engage South Korea in a proxy war with North Korea…in a faraway land “, adding that deeper engagement from Seoul “ could trigger a military conflict on the Korean peninsula “. This is the same argument widespread for example in France on the side of the National Rally or the New Popular Front: support for kyiv would risk provoking a war with Russia.

“The government must not rush”

On Thursday, Park Chan-dae once again urged the government to stop considering supplying weapons to Ukraine. “ What would be the point of sending military forces or providing weapons at this stage? », he asked, quoted by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the opposition politician said he expected “ massive changes in international affairs » after the election of Donald Trump. “ The government must not rush and must stop all its plans to deploy troops and support weapons “, he indicated. South Korea has no reason to hurry “, he further estimated.

However, the Ukrainian army quickly needs increased military aid, particularly in shells, and there is no indication that North Korea will slow down its efforts in the coming weeks. Donald Trump’s inauguration will take place in January. An eternity for Ukraine.