S.Korea pledges increased military supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s attack

South Korea has pledged to provide a larger batch of military supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in response to Russia’s attack on the country. President Yoon Suk Yeol made the announcement during a visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The visit comes after Yoon attended a NATO alliance summit and expressed solidarity with Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. South Korea, a U.S. ally and the world’s ninth largest arms exporter, has been resisting Western pressure to directly arm Ukraine but is increasing its support through non-lethal supplies and humanitarian aid. Yoon also announced plans to provide $150 million in humanitarian aid this year and to cooperate with Ukraine in infrastructure projects. Zelenskiy expressed gratitude for South Korea’s support and approval of the aid sent so far. This visit is significant as few Asian leaders have visited Ukraine, indicating Korea’s growing role in global affairs. The exact policy shift towards more support for Ukraine remains to be seen, but the visit demonstrates Kyiv’s approval and suggests that South Korea may be offering more support behind the scenes. South Korea’s defense ministry has also discussed exporting ammunition to the U.S. but denies sending artillery rounds to Ukraine. In 2022, South Korea’s arms sales increased significantly, reaching over $17 billion, including a major arms deal with Poland. South Korean companies and entities have also signed agreements to assist with reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.