Defense Ministry claims 'inaccuracies' in report on military aid to Ukraine

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Defense Ministry claims 'inaccuracies' in report on military aid to Ukraine

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral summit at the Group of 7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of their bilateral summit at the Group of 7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

 
The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that there are some "inaccuracies" in a report that Korea is proceeding with the transfer of hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds eventually destined for Ukraine under a confidential arrangement.  
 
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Korea planned to transfer shells to the United States, which in turn has arranged for them to be sent to Ukraine under this arrangement. This is a move that U.S. officials said would enable Ukraine's planned offensive against Russian forces to be more effective and allow the White House to delay a decision about whether to supply "dual-purpose" cluster munitions banned by many countries.
 
According to the report, the Pentagon declined to remark on the method or timeline but acknowledged that it has been in discussion with Seoul on buying its ammunition.  
 
It reported that the decision "marks a turnabout by Seoul," which had pledged the artillery support last November. This comes as the United States is running out of artillery shell supplies having provided more than two million 155-millimeter artillery rounds to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.
 
Korea has maintained it will not provide lethal aid to countries at war, a position which it still adheres to, according to defense officials.  
 
"The Korean government's position on aid to Ukraine remains unchanged," said Jeon Ha-kyu, spokesman of the Defense Ministry, in a briefing Thursday, noting there are some "inaccuracies in the report" by the Wall Street Journal.  
 
"The international community is providing support to keep peace and stability in Ukraine against Russia's illegal aggression, and Korea, as a member of the international community, has continued to provide financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," Jeon said.  
 
"There has been discussion between the U.S. Department of Defense and a Korean company about the export of some ammunition," Jeon added, noting there "are restrictions" on what he could confirm when asked by a reporter which parts of the report were inaccurate.  
 
He noted that "there have been many discussions and requests, so the Korean government will take appropriate measures after comprehensively reviewing the situation in Ukraine, including the humanitarian situation."  
 
Separately, he said that the Defense Ministry is "actively reviewing" plans to deliver demining equipment and ambulances to Ukraine, as requested by the Ukrainian president and first lady.
 
Regarding the report on the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, a presidential official likewise told reporters in a briefing Thursday that "there has been no change in our position."  
 
President Yoon Suk Yeol held his first bilateral summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Hiroshima on Sunday and promised additional aid, including demining equipment and ambulances, which was also requested by first lady Olena Zelenska during her visit to Seoul earlier this month.  
 
They also agreed to cooperate on Korea's participation in postwar reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
 
National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong speaks on the Ukrainian aid issue at a parliamentary meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong speaks on the Ukrainian aid issue at a parliamentary meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

On Wednesday, National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong told the National Assembly that the issue of whether to send ammunition aid to Ukraine will be considered "after monitoring the situation on the ground and in light of other situations."  
 
"So far, we've been providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukraine," Cho said. "However, Ukraine was illegally invaded. We plan to consider it after reviewing the situation on the ground and other circumstances later."
 
His remarks left open the possibility of Korea providing ammunition to Ukraine in the future.  
 
However, Cho indicated there are no plans to send ammunition to Ukraine as of now, either directly or through Poland, as has been reported by some media outlets.  
 
He responded to reports that Korea planned to loan some 500,000 155-millimeter shells to the United States to be used in Ukrainian.
 
In April, leaked classified Pentagon documents indicated that U.S. intelligence authorities may have been spying on its allies, including on Korean presidential officials' deliberations on supplying ammunition to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
 
These presidential senior aides, according to the purported leaked confidential documents, had allegedly been worried that the United States would pressure Korea to change its existing policy against providing lethal aid to countries at war. They were also mulling sending ammunition to Poland for possible transfer to Ukraine.
 
In an interview with Reuters last month, Yoon said Korea could provide aid beyond humanitarian or financial support if Ukraine comes under a large-scale attack on its civilians or another serious violation of the laws of war.
 
Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden in a bilateral summit issued a joint statement that condemned Russia's war of aggression and pledged to "support Ukraine through the vital provision of political, security, humanitarian and economic assistance, including to increase power generation and transmission and rebuild critical infrastructure."
 
"Korea, in solidarity with countries that share the universal values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law, will provide maximum support for peacebuilding and economic reconstruction in Ukraine," Yoon said at his first Cabinet meeting after the G7 Summit on Tuesday.
 
Yoon in closed-door talks at the meeting spent a considerable time discussing the Ukrainian issue with his aides, including future reconstruction efforts, according to presidential officials.  

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]
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