The Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly put out a position that it should ‘review’ despite Ukraine’s continued request for arms support.
Jeon Ha-gyu, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular briefing on the morning of the 27th, “I think there should be a necessary review at the government level regarding weapons support” about the lethal weapon aid to Ukraine.
Spokesman Jeon emphasized, “There is no change in the government’s policy of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine.”
However, regarding the humanitarian aid plan for the reconstruction of Ukraine, “Korea is actively promoting humanitarian aid, including the reconstruction of Ukraine. Regarding the part where discussions are underway, I have no specific answers.”
The Korean government has always adhered to the position that there is no support for lethal weapons to Ukraine. Despite this, requests for arms assistance to Ukraine continue.
In particular, some point out that the South Korean military is supporting Ukraine in an indirect way while exporting 155mm shells to the United States.
Previously, the US government had signed a contract with the South Korean military to export hundreds of thousands of 155mm shells. The Korean government explained that it was not support for Ukraine, saying that it was a ‘contract with the US military as the end user’, but the US military filled the shortfall of the US military with newly contracted shells instead of providing existing shells to Ukraine.
According to Ukraine’s state-run media Ukrinform, President Zelensky said at a press conference held on the 24th (local time) to mark the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine, “It would be positive if (Korean-made) weapons were provided.”
President Zelensky continued, “We are proceeding with inviting Korean leaders to Ukraine. We are also promoting a visit by our Prime Minister to Korea,” he said. “We are very interested in the relationship between the two countries. I think we can develop that relationship further.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmitro Ponomarenko said on his Twitter (SNS) on the 25th, “I visited Camp Humphreys, the largest overseas base of the US military.” I attended a video conference discussing it,” he said.
The photo released by Ambassador Ponomarenko includes figures from the CFC and Joint Chiefs of Staff, including Jeong Deok-seong, head of the Civil-Military Operations Department of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Michael Greer, head of the Civil-Military Operations Department of the Combined Forces Command.
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.