Seoul officials said President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise visit to Ukraine last week did not significantly affect South Korea-Russia relations.
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| South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, July 15. (Source: AP) |
On July 17, speaking on SBS (South Korea), Deputy Foreign Minister Chang Ho Jin downplayed concerns that President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise visit would negatively impact relations with Russia.
“(South Korea and Russia have) a formula for managing relations after the conflict broke out in Ukraine. Both countries have a tacit understanding that there is a certain limit in bilateral relations when such a situation occurs. Therefore, the president’s visit will not significantly worsen (relations with Russia),” he said.
Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho Jin, who previously served as South Korea's ambassador to Russia, also pointed out that Moscow would only "take this trip seriously" if Seoul announced lethal aid to the Kiev government.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha Kyu affirmed: "The South Korean government maintains its stance of not sending lethal weapons (to Ukraine)."
Previously, during a surprise visit to Kiev and talks with his host counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on July 15, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed to provide a security, humanitarian and reconstruction aid package under the "Ukrainian Peace and Solidarity Initiative". However, he still refused the offer to provide lethal weapons.
After the talks, South Korean Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae Hyo said the Seoul government will provide Kiev with additional bomb disposal machines and mine detection equipment as part of the aid package.
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