South Korean newspaper says Seoul lends 500,000 artillery shells to the US

155mm artillery shells are processed at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US (Photo: Reuters).

DongA Ilbo quoted a South Korean government source as saying that the country decided to lend the US 500,000 155mm artillery shells instead of selling them, in order to minimize the possibility of South Korean artillery shells being used in the conflict in Ukraine.

The source said that the artillery shells from South Korea helped the US replenish its weapons stockpile.

After purchasing 100,000 artillery shells from South Korea last year, the US government again requested to purchase the same amount in February. However, the South Korean government has found other ways to provide these artillery shells to the US.

"We decided to significantly increase the number of artillery shells but use the leasing option, after studying how to respond to the ally's request in good faith, while adhering to the (South Korean) government's principle of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine," the unnamed source revealed.

Both Seoul and Washington have confirmed that they are negotiating a deal to supply artillery shells, but there has been no official statement on whether a deal has been reached.

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin said he could not confirm the report, but reiterated the South Korean government's stance on not providing lethal aid to Ukraine.

The information comes amid a recent leak of US military documents that show Washington has pressured its allies to provide military aid to Ukraine, despite their policy of staying out of the conflict.

A year after Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, South Korean arms manufacturers are receiving more orders for missiles, self-propelled artillery, tanks, aircraft and multi-rocket launchers from around the world .

South Korea's defense exports jumped 134 percent year-on-year to $17.3 billion in the first quarter, according to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET).

Although still unable to surpass the giants in the arms industry such as the US or Russia, South Korea has risen to become the world's 8th largest arms exporter in 2021, accounting for 2.8% of global exports over the past five years. This is an increase of 1% compared to the figure in the previous five years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

South Korea is a key US ally and a major producer of artillery shells, but has sought to avoid confrontation with Russia because of economic ties and Moscow's influence over North Korea.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is visiting Washington this month for a summit with US President Joe Biden, said Seoul had not provided any lethal weapons to Ukraine and would instead expand humanitarian assistance.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/bao-han-quoc-noi-seoul-cho-my-vay-500000-dan-phao-20230412141137300.htm