South Korea has reaffirmed its ban on arms sales to Myanmar, despite facing criticism over inviting an envoy appointed by the country’s military rulers to an event promoting the sale of weapons. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, Mr Thomas Andrews, had expressed concern that the attendance of Myanmar ambassador Mr Thant Sin at the event had legitimized the junta and raised doubts about South Korea’s ban.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the military ousted the elected government in 2021. Most Western governments have isolated the generals and suspended arms sales to Myanmar. However, countries like Russia and China maintain close relations with the junta. South Korea’s foreign ministry clarified that its ban on exports of military supplies to Myanmar remains unchanged. The government has been strictly implementing countermeasures against Myanmar, including the ban on arms sales, since the crisis began.
Thomas Andrews wrote a letter to South Korea’s diplomatic mission in Geneva expressing his concerns about the invitation of Mr Thant Sin to the event. He stated that the ambassador’s participation legitimized an illegal and brutal military junta. Andrews also pointed out that the invitation raised doubts about South Korea’s ban on arms exports to Myanmar and suggested a possible intention to permit sales despite the junta’s responsibility for attacks on civilians.
South Korea’s Geneva-based diplomatic mission responded to the concerns, stating that the invitation was extended to all countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in accordance with established practice. They emphasized that the invitation was unrelated to South Korea’s policy towards Myanmar’s military.
Despite being a close ally of the United States, South Korea has not engaged in any arms transactions with Myanmar since 2019. However, the country is involved in significant development projects in Myanmar.
During a visit to South Korea in November, Thomas Andrews urged the country to take stronger action to deny the legitimacy of the Myanmar junta and help resolve the ongoing crisis.
South Korea’s stance on maintaining the ban on arms sales to Myanmar demonstrates its commitment to addressing the human rights concerns and brutality associated with the military junta’s actions. By upholding this ban, South Korea joins other Western governments in isolating the generals and sending a strong message against the violence perpetrated by the junta.
