South Korea's presidential office on Wednesday dismissed a Ukrainian report that Russia has imported petroleum products from South Korean ports, calling the accusation inappropriate.
Ukraine's top sanctions official, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said on Tuesday the shipments had eased the impact of a fuel crisis caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries.
His comment followed a report by the Guardian newspaper saying that port records and ship-tracking data showed that fuel had been loaded at South Korean ports onto seven tankers, including vessels under British and EU sanctions.
The presidential office said South Korea had, "consistently enforced sanctions and export controls against Russia in close coordination with the international community," since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
It added that Seoul was examining the facts and checking for any export control issues, and would take necessary measures if any problems were confirmed.
Relations between South Korea and Ukraine have been under strain for weeks.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung threatened unspecified measures against Ukraine unless Kyiv acknowledged a confidentiality agreement that Seoul says covered the transfer of two captured North Korean soldiers.
Ukraine denies there was a confidentiality agreement, but its foreign minister has said that Kyiv wants to mend ties with South Korea.
(Reporting by Heejin Kim; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
