NATO’s chief urges South Korea to step up military support for Ukraine By Reuters

By Soo-hyang Choi and Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) -NATO Secretary-Normal Jens Stoltenberg urged South Korea on Monday to extend army help to Ukraine, citing different nations which have modified their coverage of not offering weapons to nations in battle following Russia’s invasion.

Stoltenberg was talking in Seoul, the primary cease on a visit that will even embody Japan and is geared toward strengthening ties with Western allies in Asia within the face of the struggle in Ukraine and rising competitors with China.

Talking on the Chey Institute for Superior Research in Seoul, he thanked South Korea for its non-lethal help to Ukraine, however urged it to do extra, including there’s an “pressing want” for ammunition.

“I urge the Republic of Korea to proceed and to step up on the precise challenge of army help,” he mentioned.

“On the finish of the day, it is a choice so that you can make, however I will say that a number of NATO allies who’ve had as a coverage to by no means export weapons to nations in a battle have modified that coverage now,” he mentioned, citing Germany, Sweden and Norway.

“If we do not need autocracy and tyranny to win, then they (Ukrainians) want weapons, that is the truth,” mentioned Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister.

South Korea has signed main offers offering lots of of tanks, plane and different weapons to NATO member Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine. However President Yoon Suk-yeol has mentioned a South Korean legislation that forbids supplying weapons to nations engaged in battle makes it tough to ship arms to Ukraine.

Russia calls its invasion, launched on Feb. 24, a “particular operation” to thrust back threats to its personal safety.

Stoltenberg additionally met with Yoon and Protection Minister Lee Jong-sup, who echoed requires nearer ties with NATO primarily based on shared values, however didn’t publicly deal with requires extra army help to Ukraine.

CHINESE ‘CHALLENGE’

In conferences with senior South Korean officers, Stoltenberg mentioned occasions in Europe and North America had been interconnected with these in different areas, and that the alliance needed to assist handle world threats by rising partnerships in Asia.

The NATO chief mentioned it was “extraordinarily essential” that Russia does not win this struggle, not just for the Ukrainians but in addition to keep away from sending a mistaken message to authoritarian leaders, together with in Beijing, that they’ll get what they need by power.

Though China shouldn’t be NATO’s adversary, it has develop into “a lot greater” on NATO’s agenda, he mentioned, citing Beijing’s rising army capabilities and coercive behaviour within the area.

“We consider that we should always interact with China on points like arms management, local weather change and different points,” he mentioned. “However on the similar time, we’re very clear that China poses a problem to our values, to our pursuits, and to our safety.”

Responding to a query about Stoltenberg’s remarks, Chinese language international ministry spokesperson Mao Ning mentioned on Monday that China was a accomplice to nations, not a problem, and that it didn’t threaten any nation’s pursuits or safety.

“We additionally hope that NATO will abandon its Chilly Battle mentality and the idea of bloc confrontation, and do extra for the safety and stability of Europe and the world,” Mao advised an everyday information briefing.

In an announcement carried by state media on Monday, North Korea known as Stoltenberg’s go to a “prelude to confrontation and struggle because it brings the darkish clouds of a ‘new Chilly Battle’ to the Asia-Pacific area”.

Final yr South Korea opened its first diplomatic mission to NATO, vowing to deepen cooperation on non-proliferation, cyber defence, counter-terrorism, catastrophe response and different safety areas.

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin was additionally attributable to arrive in Seoul on Monday for talks with South Korean leaders.