These shells were brought to South Korea by the U.S. in the 1970s as a War Reserve Stockpile and were acquired by South Korea in 2008. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 12 (Korea Bizwire) —South Korea has reportedly agreed to provide the United States with artillery shells on a “loan” basis in support of Ukraine, according to government and defense industry sources. The move is seen as a way for South Korea to show its support for Ukraine and assist its ally, the United States, while adhering to the principle of not directly providing lethal weapons to Ukraine.
The deal will involve a transfer of 155mm artillery shells, which will most likely be fulfilled by lending the U.S. some of the shells that the South Korean military has in its inventory. These shells were brought to South Korea by the U.S. in the 1970s as a War Reserve Stockpile and were acquired by South Korea in 2008 with the idea of lending them back to the United States.
According to military officials, the 155mm shells are old but still functional. The loan is estimated to include between 330,000 and 500,000 rounds.
The duration of the loan is flexible and will depend on how long it takes for the U.S. to secure a return. The return options being considered include indigenous U.S. production, third-country production, and cash payments to South Korea.
Last year, the U.S. imported artillery shells from South Korea to fill a shortage in its artillery stocks following the onset of hostilities in Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported in November that the U.S. planned to purchase 100,000 155mm shells from South Korea and deliver them to Ukraine. The decision to provide the shells to the U.S. on loan, rather than export, is likely intended to minimize the possibility of a diversion of lethal weapons to Ukraine via the United States.
When South Korea exported artillery shells to the United States last year, it was interpreted that the shells ended up in Ukraine, despite the condition that the end-user was the United States. By providing the shells on a loan basis, South Korea will have more leeway and can demand the return of the shells if they are being used in Ukraine and Russia protests.
The Ministry of Defense neither confirmed nor denied the idea of providing artillery shells on a loan basis, but maintained that it does not provide weapons of mass destruction to Ukraine and has not changed its stance that exports of military equipment to the U.S. must have the U.S. as the end-user.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
