Why Provoke the World's 9th Largest Arms Exporter? Ukraine Media Analyzes Diplomatic Fallout With South Korea

Ukraine's unilateral disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea could lead to diplomatic friction and complicate future military cooperation, according to local Ukrainian media analysis.

In an article titled "How Ukraine Angered South Korea and Why It Matters" published on September 28 local time, the Ukrainian media outlet The Kyiv Independent highlighted that this incident could go beyond a simple diplomatic conflict and negatively impact Ukraine's ability to secure weapons.

The conflict began when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed during his UN General Assembly speech on September 23 that two North Korean soldiers captured alive by Ukrainian forces had been sent to South Korea.

The South Korean government stated that the two nations had agreed not to disclose the transfer, considering the safety of the prisoners and their families remaining in North Korea, as well as the diplomatic and security impacts on the Korean Peninsula. However, an aide to President Zelenskyy refuted this, stating, "There was no such agreement."

Ultimately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires ad interim of the Ukrainian Embassy in South Korea on September 28 to lodge a protest and demand an official explanation and apology from the Ukrainian government.

The Kyiv Independent focused on this conflict because South Korea possesses the weapons that Ukraine desires.

According to research by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, South Korea accounted for 3 percent of major global arms exports from 2021 to 2025, making it the world's 9th largest arms exporter.

What Ukraine wants are air defense systems capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. Just last month, President Zelenskyy urged South Korea to provide air defense systems, arguing that North Korean troops gaining combat experience in Russia and advancing their missile technology also poses a threat to South Korea.

The South Korean military operates not only U.S.-made Patriot systems but also the domestically developed Cheongung-II, which can intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles.

K9 self-propelled Howitzers, 155-millimeter artillery shells, multiple rocket launchers, and tanks are also cited as military capabilities needed by Ukraine, which has entered a prolonged war.

The South Korean government has thus far provided humanitarian aid and non-lethal military supplies to Ukraine while drawing the line at direct provision of lethal weapons.

The Kyiv Independent assessed that trust between governments is all the more crucial for sensitive cooperation, describing this diplomatic clash as a "bad signal" for future military support.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.