Trump shares column urging South Korea to sell Cheongung-II missiles to Ukraine

Donald Trump has shared a column arguing that South Korea should sell its Cheongung-II air-defense missiles to Ukraine, but the U.S. president did not say whether he supported the proposal.

Trump shared the Washington Post column by conservative commentator Marc Thiessen on Truth Social on Sept. 4. Thiessen, who previously served as chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush and is known as someone Trump consults for advice, wrote that Trump should pressure South Korea to sell M-SAM II, known as the “Korean Patriot,” from its own stockpiles to Ukraine.

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To meet the urgent need, Trump should pressure South Korea to sell Ukraine M-SAM II, known as the Korean Patriot, from its own stockpiles.

Thiessen said the move would meet Ukraine’s urgent needs. He also argued that Trump was already justifiably angry because South Korea had refused to support the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. Selling interceptor missiles to Ukraine, he wrote, would give Seoul a better way to improve relations while easing the burden on Washington.

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For South Korea, there is no better way to improve relations, while relieving the burden on the United States to provide Ukraine with interceptor missiles.

The columnist acknowledged South Korea’s position that legal restrictions prevent it from selling weapons to a country at war. He countered that South Korea was selling Cheongung-II to the United Arab Emirates, which he described as a country involved in war. Thiessen called a sale to Ukraine an opportunity for South Korea to prove that it was a reliable ally.

Trump often shares articles and columns he likes, but he did not add his own comments to this post. His decision to share the column nevertheless drew attention because it could be interpreted as pressure on South Korea to sell the missile system to Ukraine.

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This is an opportunity for South Korea to step up and prove that it is a reliable ally.