South Korea vows strong Ukraine ties, smooth Russia relations

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that Seoul would keep strong ties with Ukraine and a "smooth" relationship with Russia, while ruling out direct weapon shipments to Kiev.

As a major arms exporter, Seoul has long been asked by U.S. and European allies to do more to help Kiev, with speculation that South Korea would change longstanding policy due to North Korea's alleged arms transfers to Russia for use in Ukraine.

But Yoon told reporters it was his "firm stance" not to provide lethal weapons to countries in conflict.

Yoon said his country was doing its "best to provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, in accordance with the spirit of the constitution".

Yoon said his country's ties with Moscow had been strained by what Seoul and ally Washington say are arms shipments from North Korea to Russia.

"North Korea's export of offensive weapons not only supports the illegal waging of war in relation to Ukraine, but also clearly violates U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions related to North Korea's nuclear weapons," Yoon said.

Despite tensions with Moscow over the purported arms shipments, Yoon said he would work with Russia.

"Russia is a country with which we have had a good relationship for a long time," he said.

"Due to the recent war with Ukraine, we have different positions regarding the introduction of weapons from North Korea," he added.

"As for our relationship with Russia, we will cooperate on a case-by-case basis, and we may oppose or be wary depending on differences in position, but we will manage our relationship with Russia as smoothly as possible."

Seoul has long sought to join the ranks of the world's top arms exporters — aiming to be the fourth largest,...