South Korea supports Ukraine by providing non-lethal military supplies as announced by Defense Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan. $800,000 worth of bulletproof helmets, tents, blankets, bedspreads, non-perishable military food kits, first aid kits, and medicines.
Korean Air has also suspended all passenger and cargo services to and from Moscow and Vladivostok.
Korean Air said it is also rerouting its flights to avoid Russian airspace, citing “operational challenges and safety concerns.”
Flights from Seoul to Europe will be rerouted over China, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. This would extend flight times up to two hours 45 minutes. Flights from eastern areas of North America to Seoul will also be rerouted over Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. This will be adding close to two hours for some flights.
Ukrainian official in South Korea requests Seoul’s assistance in boosting its cybersecurity capability to defend against Russian attacks.
Ukraine’s ambassador-designate to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko said that many government institutions suffer from cyber-attack. These Russian cyber-attack cripples many systems that aid important government functions.
Top global cyber security firms also suggest that destructive software is found to circulate in Ukraine. It has already hit hundreds of computers and is part of a suspected hack.
“We would also be grateful if the Republic of Korea, being a highly developed hi-tech country, gave us a hand in strengthening our cybersecurity capabilities,” Ponomarenko said.
A foreign ministry official who later briefed reporters mentioned export controls as part of possible international sanctions. “Of course, some countries are considering unilateral sanctions including financial measures but we are not considering that.” Discussions are underway to finalize details, the official added.
South Korea supports international efforts to stop the armed aggression against Ukrainians. They also would like both countries to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict.