South Korea sells weapons to NATO members — now NATO wants Seoul to help buy weapons for Ukraine

South Korea is reviewing whether to join NATO's weapons-procurement fund for Ukraine, as the alliance expands the PURL initiative beyond its membership. If Seoul decides to participate, the move could deepen defense ties with Europe while further straining relations with Russia, the Korea Times reported.

NATO asked Seoul to join

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is "in continued discussions with NATO on various ways to support Ukraine." A ministry official confirmed NATO had asked South Korea to participate in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). Seoul's position remains centered on "humanitarian aid and other nonlethal military equipment," the official added, declining to elaborate on whether the government is leaning toward joining.

How PURL works

The US and NATO launched PURL in July 2025 to speed up delivery of urgently needed weapons to Ukraine. Instead of arranging separate purchases, participating countries pool financial contributions into a common package. Washington then uses the money to supply US-made arms and critical equipment.

Arms export ambitions drive Seoul's calculus

South Korea has emerged as a major arms exporter in recent years and is the second-largest weapons supplier to NATO member states. Many of its buyers are the same countries contributing to PURL. Many of its buyers are the same countries contributing to PURL.

Seoul lost a bid last November to supply submarines to Poland — one of its largest arms buyers — in a deal valued at about $6 billion. It is now competing with Germany for Canada's next-generation submarine project.

"Beyond strategic alignment with NATO, joining PURL could serve as leverage to expand South Korea's defense footprint among NATO members," Doo Jin-ho, head of the Eurasia Center at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told the Korea Times.