Ukraine may receive air defense systems from South Korea - Yonhap

Archive photo: Ukraine may receive air defense systems from South Korea (stcenturyasianarmsrace com)

South Korea may reconsider its position on arms supplies to Ukraine and could potentially transfer air defense systems to Kyiv, according to Yonhap News Agency.

National Security Advisor to the President of South Korea, Chan Ho-jin, announced plans to reconsider the country's position on arms supplies to Ukraine.

The reason for this was the agreement signed between Russia and North Korea. It stipulates a mutual obligation to provide immediate military assistance if one of the countries is attacked.

A presidential spokesperson said that South Korea would maintain strategic ambiguity about the types of weapons that could be supplied to Ukraine.

"Specific measures will be revealed later, and it will be interesting to see how Russia responds, rather than revealing our plans in advance," the official said.

What Ukraine can get

According to government sources, the list may include air defense systems, as Ukraine needs missile defense systems to repel Russian air strikes.

South Korea has various air defense systems, namely:

・MIM-104 Patriot - South Korea uses modernized versions such as PAC-2 and PAC-3;

・K-SAAM - a Korean air defense system designed to protect ships from missile and air threats;

・KM-SAM - a South Korean medium-range air defense system developed on the basis of technologies from the Russian 9K37 Buk system;

・K30 Biho - a short-range self-propelled anti-aircraft system equipped with 30-mm automatic guns and missiles;

・THAAD - an American air defense system designed to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere.

What preceded it

Recently, the Russian Federation and the DPRK signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which stipulates immediate mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the countries.

In response, Seoul decided to consider the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine, although it had previously refused to provide arms directly.