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Seoul continues to oppose lethal weapons supplies to Kiev — MP

"I'm not sure, but it may be North Korea that is providing military aid to Russia. But I can't confirm that," Tae Yong-ho added

SEOUL, February 2. /TASS/. The Republic of Korea n to the principle of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine, the deputy chairman of the National Assembly's (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the ruling party, Tae Yong-ho, told TASS on Thursday.

"I haven't heard that the Republic of Korea has changed its policy. I think we have a policy of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine - only humanitarian aid," Tae Yong-ho said, when asked whether Seoul's decision to supply weapons might depend on relations between Russia and North Korea.

"I'm not sure, but it may be North Korea that is providing military aid to Russia. But I can't confirm that," the parliamentarian added. On Thursday, he held a press briefing for foreign journalists on Seoul's policy toward Pyongyang.

Last December, John Kirby, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the White House, claimed that the DPRK had transferred weapons to the Wagner private military group. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that it does not need foreign supplies for its special military operation in Ukraine, since the country's military-industrial complex copes with its tasks. Pyongyang also denied such reports.

NATO appeals

During his trip to Seoul, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on the Republic of Korea to follow the example of Germany, Norway and Sweden and start supplying weapons to Ukraine. Following talks with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on Tuesday, South Korean National Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that Seoul was keeping a close eye on the situation when asked about the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Born in the DPRK, Tae Yong-ho worked as a diplomat for North Korea. In 2016, he defected to South Korea.

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