South Korea might provide Ukraine with air defense systems – Zelensky
30 May, 2023 KM-SAM Block-I SAM system. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of South Korea President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that South Korea might provide Ukraine with air defense systems to protect civil and energy infrastructure.
He shared this in an interview with the South Korean publication Chosun Ilbo. He noted that the transfer of such systems does not violate the principles of arms transfer, as they are means of defense. "Air defense systems are purely defense equipment, not weapons.
To rebuild Ukraine, the "Heavenly Shield" must be in place. We sincerely hope that Korea will support us in this area. In addition, there is an early warning system that alerts about Russian airstrikes, and South Korea could also help with this," Zelensky said.
Volodymyr Zelensky during an interview with Chosun Ilbo. Kyiv, May 2023. Photo credits: Chosun Ilbo
South Korea provides humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the invasion, the country has transferred various equipment worth £230 million. This list includes cars and generators. In addition, Seoul decided to transfer demining equipment to Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is counting on a long-term partnership with South Korea even after the victory over Russia, namely considering economic reconstruction and recovery. "We are trying to rebuild the country by studying Korea's experience in the ruins of war and combining it with our own experience. We will be able to cooperate a lot in the field of security and defense, advanced technology, and cyberspace, along with the process of rehabilitation of our people after the war.
We are also very interested in cooperation in the fields of green energy and ecology. Considering the resources of Ukraine and the large reserves and technological capabilities of Korea, I consider the direction of lithium battery production to be promising. After lithium is extracted in Ukraine, it is possible to produce related products," Zelensky said.
At the meeting with Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in Seoul, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced that the country's government will "carefully study" the list of non-lethal weapons that Ukraine needs.
President of South Korea Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo from open sources
Also, in April, the President of the Republic of Korea announced that Seoul might reconsider the issue of transferring weapons to Ukraine in the event of a "large-scale attack on the civilian population." At the same time, American media reports that South Korea is handing over ammunition to the US to supply to Ukraine.
Previously, Seoul agreed to the transfer of Polish Krab self-propelled guns to Ukraine.
The South Korean platform from the K9 Thunder self-propelled gun was chosen as the Krab's chassis.