S. Korea pledges $24 mil. for NATO's assistant package for Ukraine
President Yoon Suk Yeol, fourth from left, attends a session of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's allies and partners held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., July 11. Yonhap
President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a plan Thursday to double South Korea's contributions to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) trust fund for Ukraine to $24 million next year, in yet another show of support for the war-torn country.
Yoon announced the plan during a session of NATO allies and partners held in Washington, where participants discussed how to support Ukraine ravaged by Russia's ongoing invasion.
"(South Korea) will continue to provide security support, humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance (to Ukraine)," Yoon said. "Next year, we will double our contribution to NATO's Ukraine Trust Fund compared to this year."
In June, South Korea contributed $12 million for the NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine Trust Fund that will support the military medical clinical treatment rehabilitation center project.
South Korea provided $100 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine in 2022 and has pledged $150 million in short-term aid in 2023, and $300 million in short-term aid for this year.
It will also offer $2 billion in long-term, low-interest loans via the Economic Development Cooperation Fund beginning next year and provide 200 power generators to support Ukraine's energy sector.
Yoon's attendance at this year's NATO summit has drawn keen attention as South Korea said it would reconsider its ban on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine in response to a sweeping military pact between North Korea and Russia, but no new measure was announced during the summit.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned it would be a "big mistake" if Seoul sent arms to Ukraine, while President Yoon insisted Seoul's decision would depend on Moscow's approach to its military cooperation with Pyongyang.
Seoul officials are concerned that Moscow could provide technological assistance to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program in return for its munitions and weapons support for Russia's war in Ukraine. (Yonhap)