Seoul said the Wall Street Journal report contained “inaccurate parts,” but declined to elaborate
South Korea has agreed to send hundreds of thousands of artillery shells to Ukraine under a deal. “Confidentiality Arrangements” According to the Wall Street Journal, with the United States. The move would mark a turnaround for Seoul, which has been reluctant to authorize deadly aid to Kiev.
Sources told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that under the reported agreement, South Korea would first ship the ammunition to the United States, which would then forward it to Ukraine. Seoul and the Pentagon have so far declined to confirm the transfer, but both acknowledge ongoing talks over the shells.
However, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-gyu said that there are “Inaccurate part” In a Wall Street Journal report at a press conference later Wednesday, though it didn’t elaborate further.
“There have been various discussions and requests that our government will take appropriate measures while comprehensively reviewing the war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine,” said Jayne.
While South Korea initially said it would send arms under a separate backroom deal with the U.S. in November, it later said “Get cold feet” U.S. officials told the media after media reports of the agreement. Seoul was reportedly concerned at the time that the decision would violate its policy against sending anything but non-lethal aid to Ukraine, though officials were also reluctant to turn down a request from close ally Washington.
Since then, the Pentagon has scrambled to meet Ukraine’s massive demand for shells, even drawing on U.S. weapons stockpiles in Israel, Germany, Kuwait and South Korea to make up for shortages. The White House has authorized the transfer of more than 2 million 155mm artillery shells to Kiev since the conflict with Russia escalated last year, depleting most of America’s supplies.
The so-called reversal came shortly after South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the U.S. capital last month, where he vowed to stand by Kiev and do whatever it takes “Appropriate measures taken to uphold international norms and international law.” However, he gave no indication that Seoul would approve the transfer of the shells.
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Russia warns US not to use cluster bombs
The Wall Street Journal said South Korea’s supply of lethal munitions could actually be a good thing, as it would allow U.S. officials to delay the delivery of U.S.-made cluster bombs, which Ukraine has repeatedly demanded throughout the conflict.Human rights groups have criticized the use of such weapons because they often leave unexploded weapons “Little Bomb” The harm to civilians persists, sometimes years or decades after the conflict has ended. More than 110 countries banned their use under a 2010 treaty, but the United States, Ukraine and Russia have not signed.
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