The 21st century world is a ‘connection society’. Unless extreme isolation is pursued, all countries are directly or indirectly affected by the international situation. So is the war that has been going on for a year in Ukraine on the other side of the globe. From the perspective of the Korean people, at first glance, it seems like a story from another world that is sometimes heard through news. In fact, as the war prolongs, the aftermath of global inflation is directly affecting the domestic economy.
Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky said, “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.” Even if we are not interested in war, there are always wars around us, whether near or far. South and North Korea also joined in a kind of proxy war that took place in Ukraine. Thanks to the huge amount of weapons sold by South Korea to Eastern Europe, including Poland, each country is providing support to Ukraine with old weapons. Thanks to the massive export of Korean shells to the US, Ukraine can receive shells from the US. North Korea is known to have received resources such as crude oil in return for supplying a significant amount of shells and anti-tank weapons to the Russian mercenary group ‘Wagner Group’.
Currently, South Korea exports a large amount of weapons and ammunition to the US and European countries that supply weapons to Ukraine. At the same time, importing countries of South Korean arms and ammunition are prohibited from supplying them to Ukraine. It was a measure for fear of deteriorating relations with Russia. In response, Ukraine and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) are not hiding their uncomfortable planting. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who visited Korea in January, met with President Yoon Seok-yeol and demanded that South Korea also join the arms support, saying, “Some member states, including Germany, which had refused to provide offensive weapons to Ukraine, have changed their stance in order to defend free democracy.” The US media also reported heavily on the issue, urging South Korea to make a decision, saying, “Korea did not answer ‘no’ to NATO’s request.”
The Russo-Ukrainian War is the first large-scale conflict that announces that the world has entered a new Cold War system. Although the fighting is taking place on Ukrainian soil, the war is effectively a proxy war between NATO and Russia. The global balance of power is also rapidly reshaping in the wake of the war. To put it simply, it is a fierce eye fight and line-up.
A C-17 transport plane about to take off from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware in April last year is loaded with 155mm shells to support Ukraine. newsisCurrently, most NATO and EU member states supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The support procession is expanding beyond Europe to Asia, Africa and Oceania. The liberal democratic camp countries that support Ukraine are helping Ukraine with weapons, ammunition and humanitarian aid. Countries that support Russia finance the war by purchasing Russian natural gas and crude oil in rubles. It also serves as an intermediary supplier by sourcing and supplying parts and materials that cannot be obtained due to Western sanctions. Some countries, such as China and North Korea, are directly supplying various clothing and equipment. As each country in the world directly or indirectly participates in this war, it is clear who is a friendly country and who is an enemy country.
Recently, the domestic K2NO unfortunately suffered a defeat against the German Leopard 2A7 in the Norwegian main tank order. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Garstöre explained the background of the selection of the next tank to the effect that “a political decision to strengthen security cooperation worked.” As a member of the ‘same camp’, we can infer how the attitude of the Korean side, which does not fully fulfill its responsibilities, is reflected in Europe.
Clearly, the security situation in South Korea is also not rosy. The present threat from North Korea is growing day by day. In the face of a shortage of weapons, equipment, and supplies for our military, we cannot afford to help Ukraine by dumping its arsenal like NATO members do. It should not be overlooked that a significant number of tanks, self-propelled guns, and fighters that should have been delivered to the South Korean military have recently been exported to Poland, raising fears of a power shortage. However, even so, as a member of the liberal democracy camp in the face of the Cold War system, it is impossible to neglect our responsibilities. Didn’t Korea owe a huge debt to its allies of liberal democracy 70 years ago? While strengthening our security posture, is there any clever idea that can be of great help to Ukraine so that countries in Europe can shout loudly?
In this regard, South Korea should pay attention to the recent news that Germany has decided to donate a large amount of old tanks to Ukraine. Western European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark have decided to supply Ukraine with old Leopard 1A5 tanks stored by governments or defense companies. Even if the performance of the tank that is supported immediately is disappointing, it is a speed battle to shorten the donation period. The total number of units is 257, including 187 units stored by two German companies, 50 units owned by a Belgian company, and 20 units owned by the Danish government. It is a scale that can supply tanks to 6 mechanized brigades based on the organization of the Ukrainian army.
The Leopard 1 is a second-generation tank deployed by Germany in the 1960s. It was supplied to many countries including West Germany before the release of the successor Leopard 2 series. Overall, it has decent performance, but it is notorious for its defense power being only at the level of an armored vehicle. The frontal armor of the Leopard 1 is easily penetrated by the main guns of old Russian T-55 and T-62 tanks, and the sides are weak enough to be pierced by 20mm machine guns. The weak defense is due to the design that emphasizes mobility. However, the Leopard 1 has one strength to offset its weaknesses, and that is firepower. The main gun of the Leopard 1A5 tank, the L7 105mm 52 caliber long (口徑長: gun barrel length expressed in gun caliber units) Gangseonpo is the same model as the KM68A1 mounted on the Korean K1 tank. The M68 was produced under license by the United States for the main gun developed by Britain as a tank gun, and the KM68 was produced under license again. Korean-made tank shells can also be used by entering the shooting data of Korean-made 105mm tank shells into the Leopard 1A5 fire control system that adopts the 105×617mmR NATO standard ammunition standard.
German Leopard 1A5 tank. Courtesy of Krauss Maffei WegmanCurrently, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, which are promoting the donation of Leopard 1A5 tanks, are in trouble. The number of tanks to support Ukraine is up to 257, because there is an absolute shortage of ammunition stocks to use here. Considering that 55 shells are loaded on one tank, 14,135 shells are needed even if the donated tank is filled with shells only once. Today, Turkey and Greece are the only countries that operate Leopard 1 series tanks in Europe. Even in these countries, the tank is subject to culling, so the stock of ammunition is not enough. Accordingly, Germany recently requested help from Brazil, which has a large quantity of 105mm shells for the Leopard 1A5 tank. Brazil, which has been rapidly shifting left after President Luis Inacio Lula Dasouva took office, rejected Germany’s request with a single stroke.
Bullets also have a lifespan. Prolonged storage will cause the propelling charge to retain moisture and clump together. Such shells do not fire or incomplete combustion of the charge causes the accuracy and power to be greatly weakened. Currently, the most popular armor-piercing ammunition for 105mm tank guns in Europe is the German DM33 model. Even under optimal conditions, this shell can only exert its power by penetrating 420mm of homogeneous rolled steel at a distance of 2000m. If the ammunition is stored in poor condition, its power will inevitably decrease. Considering that the frontal armor of the T-72, the current main battle tank of the Russian army, is 500 mm, the firepower is extremely insufficient.
In this situation, if South Korea supplies 105mm tank shells, it can be of great help to Ukraine and NATO. The South Korean military is operating more than 1,000 K1 tanks. In order to maintain these armored forces, 105mm shells are being mass-produced. Korean-made 105mm shells, especially wing-stabilized armor-piercing shells, have gained a reputation for their world-class performance. The old bullet K274, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, has a penetration power of 450 mm, which is superior to DM33. The performance of the K274N armor-piercing bullet developed after that has been greatly improved, and it exhibits a penetration of 510 to 550 mm. It is capable of destroying a Russian T-72 tank without increased armor at a distance of 2000m. In the Russo-Ukrainian War, most of the engagements take place at a distance of 500m. At this close range, it can destroy even a Russian T-72 tank equipped with increased armor.
K-shell will be of decisive help to Ukraine
An apartment complex in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Region, Ukraine, was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack on February 2 (local time). newsisAnother strength of Korean tank shells is ‘condition’. After the Cold War, production facilities for 105mm tank shells almost disappeared in Europe. In the meantime, Korea maintained more than 1,500 tanks equipped with 105mm tank guns, including the M48 series. A large-scale production line has also been operated to stock up on ammunition for tanks. Continuous ammunition maintenance has created the conditions for shells to perform at their best. Regardless of whether the Korean military already possesses or newly produced, it will inevitably exert considerable power when deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The Leopard 1A5, which will be deployed in large quantities in the Ukrainian army starting this spring, will be able to play an active role as a frontline main battle tank if it uses Korean shells. It is known that Ukraine and NATO are planning to block the offensive of the Russian army before the summer and launch a grand counterattack to recover even the Crimean Peninsula. South Korea can contribute to the victory by donating 105mm tank shells. It is time for Korea, which received great help from its allies during the Korean War, to establish itself as a leader in the liberal democracy camp.
Shin In-gyun, CEO of Self-Defense Network
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.