South Korea will ‘expand scale’ of aid to Ukraine, says Yoon Suk-yeol

SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged on Saturday to “expand the scale” of his country’s humanitarian and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, after a summit with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

Seoul “will expand the scale of supplies from last year, when we provided materials such as helmets and bullet-proof vests”, he said at a press conference, adding that humanitarian aid would be increased to US$150 million (S$198 million) in 2023, from US$100 million in 2022.

Seoul would also cooperate with Kyiv in projects such as infrastructure construction, which can be backed by concessionary loans from South Korea, Mr Yoon said.

“We are discussing everything that is important for the normal and safe life of people,” Mr Zelensky said, thanking him for “powerful” support.

Mr Yoon was on an unannounced trip to Ukraine. He was there after attending a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Lithuania and visited Poland this week, where he expressed solidarity with Ukraine and explored ways to support its fight against Russia’s invasion.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Yoon visited the site of mass killings in Bucha near the capital Kyiv. He also went to Irpin, a residential area hit by large-scale missile attacks.

Mr Zelensky extended his condolences to his South Korean counterpart, whose country has been hit by flooding and landslides that killed at least 22 people.

“I want to express my condolences, the condolences of all Ukrainians in connection with the terrible flood that has now hit the Republic of Korea,” he told Mr Yoon during joint statements in Kyiv.

A United States ally and rising arms exporter, South Korea has faced renewed pressure to provide weapons to Ukraine.

Mr Yoon’s administration has resisted this in favour of humanitarian and financial aid, wary of Russia’s influence over North Korea.

He said this week his administration was preparing to send de-mining equipment and ambulances, following a request from Ukraine, and will join Nato’s trust fund for Ukraine.

Although Mr Yoon’s visit was not entirely unexpected, it was “very significant”, given that few other Asian leaders have visited Ukraine, said Mr Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea chair at the Brussels School of Governance.

The trip suggests a stamp of approval from Kyiv for the aid that Seoul has sent so far, he said.

“If he’s going, it’s because Zelensky allowed him to go, because he feels Korea is doing enough to warrant it,” Mr Pacheco Pardo said.

Mr Zelensky asked Mr Yoon to boost military support when they met for the first time in May.

South Korea’s defence ministry has said it was discussing exporting ammunition to the United States, but said media reports that Seoul had agreed to send artillery rounds to the US for delivery to Ukraine were inaccurate.

“We view Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a challenge to the international community’s freedom, human rights and the rule of law,” Mr Yoon said upon meeting Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday, adding that South Korea could be a good partner in rebuilding Ukraine.

South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday it planned to support the reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure, such as transportation, energy and industry.

South Korean companies and companies in Ukraine and other countries signed agreements on Friday for cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement. AFP, REUTERS