US Department of Defense: "South Korea Must Decide on Ukraine Support by Itself"

John Kirby, U.S. Department of Defense Spokesperson
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. Department of Defense has expressed a principled stance that the South Korean government's decision on whether to provide support to Ukraine, which is under threat of invasion by Russia, is a "sovereign decision matter."

John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, said at a regular briefing on the 14th (local time) in response to a question asking, "What kind of military support does South Korea, an ally, want regarding the Ukraine situation?" that "This is a question the South Korean government should answer."

Kirby stated, "Many NATO allies are also looking for ways to support Ukraine," adding, "(Whether to provide support) is a decision each country must make on its own. We will not get ahead of the South Korean government."

He also said, "If South Korea wishes to support Ukraine in a visible way, the Ukrainians would welcome it."

On the 15th, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense responded to a question about whether it had received any related support requests from the U.S. Department of Defense by saying, "The government is closely monitoring the future developments of the Ukraine situation and maintaining a close cooperative system with relevant agencies."

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