Every diplomatic effort needed to soothe Russia
The Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that South Korea was negotiating with the United States to export 155-millimeter artillery shells to the U.S. to shore up diminishing inventories. In a statement Friday, the defense ministry said the negotiations to export ammunition are under the premise that the U.S. is the end user.
The Wall Street Journal had reported that 100,000 howitzer artillery rounds would be delivered to Ukraine after being bought by the U.S. from South Korea. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Seoul has provided bulletproof vests, helmets and other non-lethal military gear as well as medical supplies to Ukraine. But South Korea has rejected Ukraine's request for weapons, sticking to its position of not providing weapons to Ukraine.
On Friday, the defense ministry also reaffirmed its commitment not to provide Ukraine with lethal military support. But it would be all but impossible to identify how the U.S. will use the artillery shells imported from South Korea. Given the U.S. military's concern about persistent transfers of the Pentagon's howitzer ammunition to Ukraine, South Korea, a U.S. ally, cannot turn a deaf ear to America's request for support.
Nonetheless, our government needs to be careful, considering that the arms export will antagonize Russia. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last month that any assistance from South Korea to Ukraine would bring an end to bilateral relations between Seoul and Moscow. He even hinted at offering arms to North Korea. This ― if translated into reality ― will be an undesirable development that could help the North get closer to Russia and escape from its diplomatic isolation.
What's most worrisome is that our relationship with Russia, which has been relatively smooth even after the war in Ukraine, might go into a tailspin. South Korea has joined the West's sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but their bilateral trade has been carried out properly. So there's no need to be in a hurry to send the artillery shells. The government should closely examine the possible aftermath of the arms export from the perspective of national interest and make every diplomatic effort to prevent a breakdown in our relationship with Russia.
The Ministry of National Defense has confirmed that South Korea was negotiating with the United States to export 155-millimeter artillery shells to the U.S. to shore up diminishing inventories. In a statement Friday, the defense ministry said the negotiations to export ammunition are under the premise that the U.S. is the end user.
The Wall Street Journal had reported that 100,000 howitzer artillery rounds would be delivered to Ukraine after being bought by the U.S. from South Korea. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, Seoul has provided bulletproof vests, helmets and other non-lethal military gear as well as medical supplies to Ukraine. But South Korea has rejected Ukraine's request for weapons, sticking to its position of not providing weapons to Ukraine.
On Friday, the defense ministry also reaffirmed its commitment not to provide Ukraine with lethal military support. But it would be all but impossible to identify how the U.S. will use the artillery shells imported from South Korea. Given the U.S. military's concern about persistent transfers of the Pentagon's howitzer ammunition to Ukraine, South Korea, a U.S. ally, cannot turn a deaf ear to America's request for support.
Nonetheless, our government needs to be careful, considering that the arms export will antagonize Russia. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last month that any assistance from South Korea to Ukraine would bring an end to bilateral relations between Seoul and Moscow. He even hinted at offering arms to North Korea. This ― if translated into reality ― will be an undesirable development that could help the North get closer to Russia and escape from its diplomatic isolation.
What's most worrisome is that our relationship with Russia, which has been relatively smooth even after the war in Ukraine, might go into a tailspin. South Korea has joined the West's sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but their bilateral trade has been carried out properly. So there's no need to be in a hurry to send the artillery shells. The government should closely examine the possible aftermath of the arms export from the perspective of national interest and make every diplomatic effort to prevent a breakdown in our relationship with Russia.
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