The Wall Street Journal reported that "hundreds of thousands of South Korean artillery shells are on their way to Ukraine via the United States, after Seoul initially hesitated to arm Kyiv." The newspaper indicated, on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources, that "Seoul has reached a secret arrangement with Washington to transfer the shells to the United States for delivery to Ukraine, after Washington requested such support from its Asian ally last year."
South Korean Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu stated Thursday that "discussions were underway with the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) regarding ammunition exports, but there are inaccuracies in the Wall Street Journal report," declining to provide further details.
He added in a press briefing: "There have been various discussions and requests, and our government will take appropriate actions while thoroughly reviewing the war and humanitarian situation in Ukraine."
Seoul, a U.S. ally and a major producer of artillery ammunition, has so far ruled out sending lethal military aid to Ukraine, citing its trade relations with Russia and Moscow's influence over North Korea, despite increasing pressure from Washington and Europe to provide weapons to Kyiv.
