Russia warns Japan and South Korea over arms exports

Japan’s move to supply Patriot air defense systems to the United States and then to Ukraine will have “serious consequences” for Russia-Japan relations, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday (December 27).

Last week, Japan said it would prepare to ship Patriot air defense missiles to the United States after revising its arms export policy. While Japan’s new export controls still prevent it from shipping weapons to countries at war, they could give the United States more ability to provide military aid to Kiev.

“The Japanese side has lost control over the weapons, with which Washington can now do whatever it wants,” spokeswoman Zakharova said at a weekly press briefing. “It cannot be ruled out that… Patriot missiles will arrive in Ukraine.”

“Such a scenario would be interpreted as clearly hostile actions against Russia and would lead to serious consequences for Japan in the context of bilateral relations,” she said.

Meanwhile, Russia also told South Korea on Wednesday not to be surprised if Moscow retaliates against Seoul for expanding a list of goods banned from being exported from the East Asian country to Russia without special permission.

South Korea said this week it would add more than 600 types of goods with potential military uses to a list of banned or restricted exports to Russia, including heavy construction equipment, rechargeable batteries, aviation components and some cars.

“This is an unfriendly move made at Washington’s request. It will damage the South Korean economy and industry, and Russia will take retaliatory measures,” spokeswoman Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.

Huy Hoang (according to TASS, Reuters)