Ukraine will seek weaponry from South Korea as President Zelensky outlines strategies in response to North Korea's entry into the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will commence negotiations with South Korea regarding military assistance. Previously, both parties were "cautious" about this matter concerning one another. Now, Kyiv is preparing a detailed request that a representative of the Ukrainian leader will deliver during a visit to Seoul.
Zelensky shared this information in an interview with the South Korean television channel KBS and reiterated his statements on social media. He mentioned that North Korea has officially become a participant in the war against Ukraine, and as a result, he expects decisive actions from South Korea.
“We will discuss weapons. I do not know how South Korea will respond, but we would very much like to receive assistance. Yes, considering both artillery and air defense, along with some other important matters,” the president noted.
He also confirmed that Seoul will send specialists to Kyiv for data exchange. Additionally, Zelensky made a statement regarding filing a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court against Kim Jong Un:
“We will make a decision after the North Korean army is used against Ukrainian citizens. However, if South Korea supports our respective paths, I believe that together with our allies, we are ready for appropriate actions,” emphasized the head of state.
He further added that Ukrainian defenders will take North Korean soldiers as prisoners for future exchanges. The president also noted that North Korean troops in the war represent an escape for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to avoid mobilization within his country.
“To be frank: North Korean military personnel lack combat experience in modern warfare. Therefore, the North Korean soldier will gain practical experience in this war, understanding what ground warfare entails. He will learn about the practical use of artillery. There will be applications of drones, FPV, missiles, etc.,” Zelensky concluded.
South Korea May Provide Weapons
Recently, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol described the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia as a violation of the UN Charter. He noted that currently, Seoul is not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine. However, it appears that South Korea may reconsider its position and act "more flexibly," depending on North Korea's military activity, reports Yonhap.
North Korea in the War Against Ukraine
According to Western media, Russia has sent nearly 10,000 soldiers from North Korea, while Ukrainian intelligence estimates their number to be at least 12,000, including 500 officers, among them three generals. Some of them are already in the combat zone, particularly in the Kursk region of Russia, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently conducting operations.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at a press conference on October 31 that, according to the latest data, up to 8,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to the Kursk region. They may participate in combat operations in the coming days.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the North Korean troops arriving in Russia for participation in the war against Ukraine are not the best representatives of Kim Jong Un's army. Among them are young individuals around 20 years old and even teenagers, indicating chronic malnutrition. The North Korean military lacks experience in trench warfare and has never left the borders of North Korea, receiving training primarily in killing rather than combat actions. Ukrainian experts believe that North Korean soldiers will likely become cannon fodder, having little impact on the course of the war.
At the same time, the National Security and Defense Council urged not to underestimate the military of North Korea, who will participate in the war in Ukraine on the side of Russia. This is especially relevant for American media. North Korean soldiers will gain combat experience, and additional resources will be needed to eliminate them.