South Korea is reportedly providing the United States with hundreds of thousands of 155mm shells through a lending agreement to address the shortage caused by the Ukraine crisis. While some of the shells may come from Korean manufacturer Pungsan, it is believed that a significant proportion will be sourced from South Korea’s own military stockpiles, possibly acquired from US military war reserve materials. According to a recently leaked secret US government document, if the US needs the 330,000 shells referenced in the document, then this is likely an estimate of the number of shells that South Korea will lend. Last year, South Korea exported 100,000 shells to the US due to supply shortages caused by the Ukraine conflict. However, this time, the lending agreement approach was chosen to minimise any resulting diplomatic tensions, as there is a possibility that the shells may be indirectly deployed in support of lethal weapons to Ukraine via the US. The South Korean government, which seeks to join the UN and other nations’ efforts towards protecting Ukraine’s freedom, has refrained from commenting on the details of the agreement.
It is said that South Korea will provide hundreds of thousands of 155mm shells in the form of ‘lending’ to the United States. It is a way of ‘loaning’ so that it can fill the inventory of the United States, which is in short supply with Ukraine support.
According to government sources on the 12th, it was found that South Korea recently agreed to a contract to lend 155mm shells to the United States.
Although some of the shells to be leased may include new ones produced by a Korean company (Pungsan), it is said that there is a high possibility that the contract will be fulfilled by lending some of the shells owned by the Korean military. It is highly likely that the war reserve materials (WRSA) were acquired by South Korea following the U.S. military had accumulated them on the Korean Peninsula for wartime.
In a document that appears to be a US government secret recently circulated online, the expression ‘Korea 155 transportation schedule (330,000)’ appears, and if the US needs this number, it is estimated that the approximate volume will be similar.
It was found that the US also imported South Korean shells last year to make up for the shortage of shells stockpiled due to the war in Ukraine. On the morning of the 12th, Rep. Shin Won-sik, secretary of the People’s Power of the National Defense Committee, appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ and said, “Last year, Poongsan exported 100,000 rounds under the condition that only the United States use them.”
However, the reason why the South Korean government provided shells this time but chose a ‘lending’ method rather than a ‘sale’ is to reduce the possibility of escalating into a diplomatic problem, as it appears to be in the form of indirect support for lethal weapons to Ukraine via the United States. do. Even if the end user is decided, there is virtually no way to prevent 155mm shells from entering Ukraine.
The fact that there is no way to prevent it is similar to lending, but since it is a ‘lending’ method, if it becomes a diplomatic issue later, you can at least request a recall.
In response to a reporter’s question regarding this method, the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The South Korean government’s position is to join the international community’s efforts to protect Ukraine’s freedom, and accordingly, South Korea and the United States have been discussing ways to support Ukraine’s freedom.” He did not confirm or deny, saying, “I cannot confirm the details of the agreement.”
However, according to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system, Poongsan has decided to supply shells worth more than 160 billion won to Hanwha Aerospace, the manufacturer of the K9 self-propelled artillery, over the next two years. ‘Large caliber shells’ means 155mm shells, and Hanwha Aerospace signed a contract with Poland last year to export K9 self-propelled howitzers.
If these shells, which are estimated to total hundreds of thousands of rounds, are exported to Poland, the possibility that they will eventually be used on the battlefield in Ukraine cannot be ruled out. This is because it is impossible to monitor the movement of the shells individually, as in the case of the US.
In conclusion, South Korea’s decision to lend hundreds of thousands of 155mm shells to the United States is a way of indirectly supporting the Ukrainian government without creating a diplomatic issue. While it is possible that some of the shells might end up in Ukraine, the ‘lending’ method allows for the possibility of recall if needed. Despite the lack of confirmation from the government, the supply of shells to Hanwha Aerospace, which exports K9 self-propelled howitzers to Poland, raises the possibility of the shells being used on the battlefield. As tensions continue to rise in the region, the supply and movement of military equipment will continue to be monitored closely.
