The USA and South Korea agreed on the lease of 500,000 artillery ammunition – media

12 April, 2023 A transport pallet with 155-mm artillery ammunition. Photo from open sources. South Korea will lease 500,000 155-mm artillery ammunition to the United States.

This will allow Washington to increase the supply of shells to Ukraine. The South Korean DongA Ilbo media reported this. The deal was signed last month.

The lease of 500,000 rounds of ammunition is 5 times more than the amount that the South Korean government sold to the United States at the end of last year. At the same time, this is half of the amount that Washington transferred to Ukraine last year. They emphasize that the lease agreement is an unusual solution for the ammunition supply.

155-mm artillery shells.

Photo from open sources

Sources of the media emphasize that the governments of the countries held long negotiations on the method of transferring the shells. "Having found a way to respond in good faith to the request of the USA, our strategic ally, while adhering to the state principle of not transferring lethal weapons to Ukraine, we decided to instead provide them on lease terms, significantly increasing supplies," one of the sources emphasized. This regards the transfer of half a million ammunition from the USA's own stockpiles to Ukraine after their replenishment at the expense of South Korean ones.

The South Korean government believes that if the munitions are leased, ownership of them belongs to Seoul. They are also to be returned later. In addition, the lease is a certain guarantee that the US will not transfer shells to Ukraine without the consent of the South Korean government.

Production of 155mm shells in the USA.

March 2023. USA. Photo credits: Michael S.

Williamson/The Washington Post

The media emphasizes that the decision to refrain from aid to Kyiv is dictated by fears of angering Russia, which could strengthen its cooperation with North Korea. At the same time, they note that the transfer of weapons for rent is a reasonable method of managing relations between Moscow and Seoul. If Russia objects and takes action against South Korean citizens and businessmen staying in Russia, a request can be made for the return of the ammunition.

Last month, it was reported that the government of South Korea agreed to transfer Polish Krab self-propelled guns to Ukraine. This is the first confirmation that South Korea officially agreed to transfer weapons to Ukraine, although it did so indirectly.

KRAB self-propelled guns of the 26th Separate Artillery Brigade of Ukraine. October 2022, Ukraine.

Photo credits: Kostiantyn Liberov

In addition, South Korean law makes it difficult to sell weapons directly to countries that are at war.

However, the USA and NATO continue putting pressure on Seoul to increase aid to Ukraine.