(SEOUL) South Korea on Thursday denied press reports of future deliveries of shells to Ukraine, saying its decision not to deliver lethal weapons to Kyiv remained unchanged.
THE wall street journal said on Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of South Korean-made artillery shells were to be delivered to Ukraine via the United States, under a “confidential agreement” between Seoul and Washington.
South Korea has a long-standing policy of not supplying arms to active conflict zones, a position it has maintained in the Ukrainian case, despite strong calls from the United States, European countries and Kyiv to supply weapons.
“The South Korean government’s position on aid to Ukraine remains unchanged. […] and there are also inaccuracies in the article” of the wall street journalDefense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu told reporters.
Mr. Jeon, however, acknowledged that discussions had taken place between the Pentagon and an unidentified South Korean company about “exports of ammunition”, without giving further details.
“There have been many discussions and requests and therefore the Korean government will take appropriate measures while reviewing the situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian situation,” he added.
On Wednesday, the head of South Korea’s National Security Office Cho Tae-yong assured lawmakers that “there is no support (in the form) of artillery munitions to Ukraine”.
South Korea, 9e arms exporter to the world, provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and sold tanks and howitzers to Kyiv ally Poland.
In April, the presidency indicated that a large-scale Russian attack on Ukrainian civilians could change its doctrine.
But experts point to Seoul’s delicate position in this matter, due to economic ties with Moscow – its 15e trading partner in 2022 – and Russia’s influence over neighboring North Korea.
“The Ministry of Defense is unable to specify the ‘inaccuracies’ in the article” of the wall street journaltold AFP Cheong Seong-chang, from the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute in Seoul.
“Cooperation with the United States is important for the Seoul government, but the latter must also maintain ties with Moscow,” he summed up.