South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, on the fifth day of his state visit to mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korean alliance, spoke about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in a speech at Harvard University's Kennedy School.
He stressed the importance of preventing Russia's invasion of Ukraine from succeeding, and he mentioned that Seoul is considering providing lethal aid to Kyiv. Yoon described the Russian invasion as a violation of international law and the rights of the Ukrainian people.
He argued that it's necessary to demonstrate that such attempts will never be successful, to deter future attempts at invasion. According to simultaneous translations of his remarks, Yoon's comments suggest South Korea's willingness to support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was asked about the possibility of South Korea providing lethal aid to Ukraine, and he replied by saying that they are closely monitoring the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine.
He added that South Korea will take appropriate measures to uphold international norms and laws. Yoon stated that they are currently monitoring the situation and are considering various options. His response suggests that South Korea is keeping a close eye on the conflict in Ukraine and is willing to take action to support international norms and laws.
During his state visit to the US, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. As part of the meeting, the US pledged to provide South Korea with more insight into its nuclear planning in the event of a conflict with North Korea. The two leaders also discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine, reflecting the international community's growing concerns over Russia's aggression.
In a recent interview with Reuters, Yoon had suggested that South Korea might extend its support for Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic aid if the country comes under a large-scale civilian attack. This statement signaled a shift in South Korea's stance, as Yoon had previously been opposed to the idea of arming Ukraine. Overall, Yoon's visit to the US has highlighted the growing global concerns over geopolitical tensions, particularly in Ukraine and North Korea.
During his state visit to the US, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected the idea that the Washington Declaration he signed with President Joe Biden meant they were accepting North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. Yoon emphasized that he was against treating North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons as a disarmament issue. He further stated that if South Korea were to accept nuclear weapons by North Korea, then they may have to possess nuclear weapons as well. However, Yoon asserted that this would not be desirable, as it would lead to a situation of disarmament. His comments suggest that South Korea is committed to pursuing a peaceful resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue and is not willing to accept the country as a nuclear-armed state.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol affirmed that the Washington Declaration required Seoul to continue to respect the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and not acquire its own nuclear weapons. Although South Korea has the technological capabilities to develop nuclear weapons, Yoon said that it was a complex issue that involved political and economic considerations. He noted that there were opinions in South Korean society advocating for the country to acquire nuclear weapons, but he cautioned that doing so would require South Korea to give up many of the values it had been upholding. Yoon emphasized that these opinions were not considering all of the complexities involved in developing and maintaining a nuclear arsenal. His comments suggest that South Korea is committed to upholding its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is cautious about pursuing its own nuclear weapons program.