SEOUL ‘SENDS ARMS TO UKRAINE VIA U.S.’

Hundreds of thousands of South Korean artillery rounds are on their way to Ukraine via the United States, after Seoul’s initial resistance toward arming Kyiv, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Journal, citing unnamed sources, said Seoul had reached a “confidential arrangement” with Washington to transfer the shells to the US to be delivered to Ukraine, after the Biden administration asked its Asian ally last year for artillery support.

Jeon Ha-kyu, spokesman at South Korea’s defence ministry, yesterday said it had been in talks with the Pentagon on ammunition exports but that there were “inaccurate parts” in the report, declining to give details.

“There have been various discussions and requests, and our government will take appropriate measures while comprehensively reviewing the war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” Jeon said.

An American ally and major producer of artillery ammunition, South Korea had previously ruled out sending lethal aid to Ukraine, citing business ties with Russia and Moscow’s influence over North Korea, despite pressure from Washington and Europe to supply weapons.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, in an interview with Reuters last month, signalled the prospect of a change, saying it might be difficult for Seoul to adhere to only providing humanitarian and financial support if Ukraine faced a large-scale civilian attack or a “situation the international community cannot condone”.

The Pentagon and Yoon’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.