ROK government should pay heed to Russia's warning on Ukraine crisis

Ukraine welcomed a "special" guest from East Asia on Sunday: Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol.

During the visit, Yoon told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that as the first ROK president to pay a visit to Ukraine during its conflict with Russia, he felt great responsibility, and pledged to increase aid to Ukraine from $100 million last year to $150 million this year.

Hinting at massive military aid to Ukraine, Yoon also said the ROK will set up the Yoon-Zelensky Scholarship to help Ukrainian students study in the ROK.

As a manufacturing powerhouse, the ROK is the world's eighth-largest arms exporter. With the sharp increase in demand for weapons in Ukraine, NATO countries' ammunition stocks are fast depleting, causing Ukraine to depend on the ROK.

In fact, last summer the ROK received three large military orders from Poland for 1,000 K2 battle tanks, 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers and 48 FA-50 light fighter jets. In October, Poland purchased another 218 K239 rocket systems from the ROK. The four deals mark the ROK's largest arms export deal ever.

Unlike previous ROK leaders, Yoon has moved closer to the West, even seeking a "humiliating" reconciliation with Japan. On the Ukraine issue, the ROK is therefore naturally following Washington's lead. In April, Yoon suggested that the ROK may expand its aid to Ukraine beyond humanitarian and economic sectors.

So, during his latest visit to Ukraine, Yoon said the ROK plans to provide "larger military assistance" to Ukraine.

This means the ROK is going farther than Japan in following Washington's lead.

However, the ROK should not forget the warning from Russia that if it provides military aid to Ukraine, it means the ROK is "involved in the conflict".

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that any act of providing weapons to Ukraine will be regarded by Russia as an "openly hostile anti-Russian act", and if the ROK dares to do so, it will not only damage Russia-ROK relations, but also affect Russia's stance on the Korean Peninsula.

The ROK should seriously heed Moscow's words.