Prior to his state visit to the United States, President Yoon Seok-yeol announced to Reuters that he would shift his policy toward “armed aid” to Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview with Britain's Reuters on the 19th, President Yoon said, "If a situation unacceptable to the international community occurs, such as a large-scale attack on civilians, a massacre, or a serious violation of the law of war, it may be difficult to claim only humanitarian aid or financial support." We believe that there will be no limits to the scope of assistance to defend and restore countries illegally invaded, both under international and domestic law,” he said.
Reuters said on the same day, “This is the first time that Seoul has proposed an intention to provide weapons to Ukraine, which has been over a year since Seoul ruled out the possibility of lethal aid.” When President Yoon Seok-yeol said that support could be expanded, he first hinted at a change in his stance on arming Ukraine.”
President Yoon went on to say, “Just as South Korea received international aid during the 1950-53 Korean War, the government is seeking ways to help defend and rebuild Ukraine.” "Given the development in the country, we will take the most appropriate action," he told Reuters.
Regarding the 'Tension in the Taiwan Strait', President Yoon said, "After all, this tension was caused by an attempt to change the status quo by force, and we, together with the international community, absolutely oppose such a change." It's not a Taiwanese issue, it's a global issue, just like the North Korean issue."
Reuters commented on President Yoon's remarks, saying, "Tensions over democratic Taiwan, which China claims to be its own, have increased as China intensifies diplomatic and military pressure to force Taiwan to accept China's sovereignty."
When asked whether allies would envision an Asian version of NATO's nuclear planning group that includes Japan, President Yoon said, "The focus is on bilateral measures to strengthen information sharing, joint contingency plans, and joint implementation of plans." said.
President Yoon continued, "In terms of responding to a powerful nuclear attack, I think we need to prepare stronger measures than NATO has prepared." Therefore, it would be more efficient to create this system first," he said, revealing Korea's 'NATO Nuclear Asian Version Priority Approach'.
Regarding the ballistic missile threat to North Korea, President Yoon told Reuters, "If a nuclear war breaks out between South and North Korea, it will probably not just be a problem for both sides, but the whole of Northeast Asia will be reduced to ashes. It has to stop."
“At the summit, President Yun said he would seek ‘tangible results’ for allied efforts to step up military testing and improve the response to the evolving threat from North Korea, which launched its first solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile last week,” Reuters reported. , reported, “Seoul will strengthen surveillance, reconnaissance and information analysis capabilities and develop 'ultra-high-performance, high-power weapons' to counter the North Korean threat, President Yoon said.”
In an exclusive interview with the US Associated Press on January 10, President Yoon said, "It is difficult for the government to arm Ukraine, which is at war, not only because of domestic public opinion but also because of South Korea's laws."
President Yoon told Reuters that day, “There are no restrictions on international law or domestic law.”
US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said right after the G7 Foreign Ministers' meeting on the 18th, "We decided to make it clear to China that we oppose the unilateral change of status quo with Taiwan." We are equally committed to engaging in constructive dialogue with China, both individually and collectively, if we make an effort.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said on the Taiwanese issue during his visit to China on the 6th, "The worst thing is to think that Europe should become a follower and adjust to the American rhythm and China's overreaction."
A joint statement from the China-France summit said, “In a multipolar world, the two countries must strengthen the multilateral international system with the United Nations at its core. They also agreed to deepen dialogue and strengthen mutual understanding on international and regional security issues with the People's Liberation Army of China and the French Army Pacific Command. In addition, the two countries agreed to continue close communication on the Korean Peninsula issue,” it was announced on the 7th.
<Refer to President Yoon’s AP Conference on ‘Close Cooperation with the US and Japan, Excluding Direct Negotiation’, dated January 11, 2023>