South Korea, which officially says it does not provide military aid to Ukraine, has tacitly approved the transfer to Kyiv of weapons containing components made in the Asian country, Reuters reported, citing an official in Seoul and one in Poland.
The comments received by Reuters are the first official confirmation that the Asian country was at least indirectly involved in the supply of weapons to Ukraine in the form of “AHS Krab” howitzers transferred to Kyiv from Warsaw.
Officials from the two countries previously declined to comment on the terms under which the howitzers were delivered, fueling speculation that the government in Seoul either approved the transfer or ignored Poland’s statement.
The executive branch, led by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, offered Ukraine 18 Krab howitzers late last spring, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced on June 9 that they are ready for front-line combat.
How military components produced in South Korea ended up in Ukraine
Kim Hyun-cheol, director of the Europe-Asia division of the International Cooperation Bureau, an agency of the Seoul government, confirmed to Reuters that the South Korean agency tasked with overseeing the purchase and sale of weapons has reviewed and approved the transfer of these howitzers to the chassis, which is manufactured in the Asian country.
“We reviewed all the documentation and possible problems (…) and then made a decision to grant an export license to Poland,” he told Reuters in an interview at the agency’s headquarters in Seoul.
He later returned to emphasize that the government’s position was not to transfer weapons systems to Ukraine.
The information was confirmed by Jacek Matuszak, a representative of Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, which unites 50 weapons production enterprises in Poland, including Huta Stalowa Wola, which produces “Krab” howitzers.
“We got that approval for Ukraine, and we got it last year before signing the sales contract for Ukraine,” he told Reuters.
The South Korean government does not appear to be happy with the news of the shelling
Speaking to a German news agency, the defense ministry in Seoul said the Crab howitzers contained components made in several countries and that the transfer did not involve a complete weapon system made in South Korea.
“AHS Krab” is a self-propelled howitzer, created by combining the “K9 Thunder” chassis produced in South Korea, a turret manufactured by BAE Systems of Great Britain, a 155 mm main gun by French manufacturer Nexter Systems and a system for adjusting the shot made in Poland.
Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused South Korea of supplying weapons to Ukraine, saying the decision would destroy bilateral relations. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol then denied this information.
His administration says it has no plans to change that policy. Yun also said that South Korean law makes it very difficult to sell weapons to countries that are involved in an active conflict.
Reuters also notes that the government in Seoul has also tried not to anger Russia amid its strained relations with China and North Korea.
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Source: Hot News
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