Yoon Suk Yeol made the statement in an interview with the Reuters news agency, published on Wednesday.
The South Korean head of state said: "If there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support."
Yoon’s words mark the first time South Korea has signalled a willingness to extend its assistance to Ukraine beyond humanitarian and financial aid, The Kyiv Independent reported.
A year ago, Seoul ruled out the possibility of providing lethal aid to help Kyiv fight off Russia's full-scale invasion, according to Reuters.
South Korea ‘exploring how to help defend and rebuild Ukraine’
But in Wednesday’s interview, ahead of a visit to the United States next week, the South Korean president said his government had been “exploring how to help defend and rebuild Ukraine,” just as his country received international aid during the 1950-1953 Korean War.
South Korea is a key US ally and major producer of artillery ammunition, but it has so far sought to avoid antagonising Russia due to its companies operating there and because of Moscow's influence over North Korea, despite mounting pressure from Western countries for delivery of weapons to Ukraine, Reuters reported.
Yoon further said: “I believe there won’t be limitations to the extent of the support to defend and restore a country that’s been illegally invaded both under international and domestic law.”
He added: “However, considering our relationship with the parties engaged in the war and developments in the battlefield, we will take the most appropriate measures.”
Last week, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for the delivery of South Korean artillery shells to Ukraine, telling The New York Times that South Korea had a huge supply of artillery shells and could help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's invasion.
Recently published leaked Pentagon documents indicated that Poland could have a role in the transfer of artillery shells from South Korea to Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Wednesday is day 420 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, Reuters, The Kyiv Independent