Ukrainian official anticipates boost in South Korean support for Ukraine

Oleksandr Merezhko, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation shared this during a session at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as reported by Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko.

“We're seeing a response from South Korea. I believe there will be discussions on how to address this situation. NATO countries should also react. In my view, this means significantly increasing military and technical assistance to Ukraine and enhancing its defense capabilities. It’s especially important to lift any restrictions on the use of Western weapons against Russia,” Merezhko stated.

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He believes that South Korea is closely watching North Korea's aggressive actions and responding appropriately. 

“When North Korea takes steps that threaten our security, South Korea tries to counterbalance the damage. We can expect that South Korea, with its significant military-industrial capabilities, will increase its support for Ukraine. We certainly hope for that,” he added.

Oleksandr Merezhko emphasized that Ukraine's partners recognize a critical and alarming reality: Ukraine is now fighting for survival not just against Russia, but against a coalition of states. 

“Previously, North Korea provided Russia with military assistance, like shells and possibly other weapons. Now we have information that North Korean troops are in Russia. There may be plans to deploy these soldiers in the Kursk region against our army. This is a very dangerous situation, indicating that the war is spreading and affecting other areas,” he said.

• On October 29, it was reported that a South Korean government delegation would visit Ukraine this week to share its data on the deployment of troops from North Korea to Russia and discuss cooperation between Seoul and Kyiv.