South Korea urged to bolster aid amid North Korean support for Russia
Vladislav Seleznyov, a military expert and former spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, criticized South Korea's approach to the war in Ukraine. In his view, a country with one of the strongest armies globally could do much more for the defenders fighting against Russia.
Seleznyov believes that strengthening the Ukrainian army aligns with South Korea's interests. These comments relate primarily to North Korea's actions, which strongly support Russia and expect numerous benefits in return, including economic and military support, which could ultimately lead to greater threats for South Korea.
Ukrainian expert criticizes South Korean authorities
"Currently, our friends and partners in Seoul are caught up in internal political disputes and games rather than allocating additional forces and resources to strengthen the Ukrainian army. It's evident that the more North Korean armed forces are destroyed on the battlefields of the Russo-Ukrainian war, the fewer threats South Korea will face in the future," said Vladislav Seleznyov, as quoted by the Unian agency.
According to Global Firepower's rankings, South Korea has the fifth strongest army in the world, and many of the resources stored in the country's warehouses are viewed as equipment that could significantly aid the Ukrainian army. South Korea is a leading producer of artillery ammunition, including 155 mm (6-inch) shells used in much NATO equipment that has reached the front as part of aid to Ukraine, as well as 105 mm (4-inch) shells.
South Korea's heavy military equipment includes many domestic solutions, but weapons originating from the United States and older Soviet-era equipment are playing an increasingly minor role. Seoul has even started using T-80U tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles as training targets for drones, although observers believe such equipment would still be useful for Ukrainians.
Moscow's biggest ally
Seleznyov emphasized that North Korea is Moscow's biggest ally, supporting it on a large scale. This involves not only ammunition and military equipment but also manpower. In Russia's Kursk region, several thousand North Korean soldiers have already been deployed. Seleznyov believes they should not be underestimated because, despite the lack of equipment and training, they "adapt to modern warfare quite quickly."
Initially, Pyongyang mainly supplied Moscow with artillery ammunition (in 2024, they provided more than all of Europe gives to Ukraine). Over time, the support also included the aforementioned soldiers sent to the Kursk region and heavy military equipment, including multiple rocket launchers and M1989 "Koksan" systems.
