By Soo-hyang Choi

SEOUL (Reuters – Canada requested South Korea to send it artillery rounds. Seoul stated that Seoul was asking for this “backfill” supply. The move is likely to increase pressure on South Korea’s willingness to give, at minimum indirectly, lethal aid during the conflict.

Canada supplied Ukraine with two M777 tow howitzers. They can fire 155mm shells. Anita Anand (Canada’s Defense Minister) announced that Canada would send another 20,000 rounds, which will be sourced from America.

South Korea’s Ministry of Defense spokesmen confirmed Ottawa had requested the information, but did not give further details. They said “no official proceeding are underway in connection with the request”.

South Korean broadcaster SBS quoted an unnamed official from South Korea’s defence ministry as saying that the deal might involve 100,000 shells drawn from South Korea’s reserves. These could be likely to sell below market value.

SBS reported that the official stated, “We are currently pursuing a strategy to provide 100,000 rounds for Canada.”

Global Affairs Canada (which manages diplomatic, consular, and other relations) and Canada’s Department of National Defence were not immediately available for comment.

South Korea is the world’s largest manufacturer of 155mm ammunition. Its K9 self-propelled howitzer dominates international markets. Even though the K9 has been used in several European countries like Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Finland, South Korea said that it doesn’t intend to give lethal assistance to Ukraine.

South Korea provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and it has sent non-lethal goods such as bulletproof helmets or medical kits.

Ex-President Moon Jae-in’s administration declined requests by Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian President, for armoured vehicle, anti-aircraft, antitank and antiship weapons.

Yoon Suk-yeol (new South Korean president), who was inaugurated on May 10th, has expressed interest in closer alignment with Washington. This raises speculation that he will move to approve at least some indirect lethal assistance to Ukraine.