In response to the appearance of North Korean troops on the side of russia, South Korea's leadership is considering various options for responding in terms of assistance to Ukraine. In particular, it concerns the possible transfer of weapons for defensive and offensive actions.
The corresponding message was spread by the South Korean Yonhap News agency. Against this background, it becomes appropriate to mention the option of 3.4 million 105-mm shells in South Korea's stockpile, which would be relevant to transfer to Ukraine.
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This option was first discussed in South Korea in April 2024. The primary source is a publication by CSIS.
During the Cold War, the United States accumulated a significant stockpile of shells in South Korea under the WRSA-K program. In the 2000s, the Americans sold this stockpile directly to the South Korea. Thus, South Korea received several hundred thousand 155-mm shells and as many as 3.4 million 105-mm shells.
The peculiarity of the situation is that South Korea now has only K105 HT self-propelled howitzers, which are essentially improvised self-propelled howitzers on truck chassis. Since 2020, the South Korean army has announced plans to gradually transfer its K105 HTs to the reserves.
Accordingly, this makes it possible to say that at least some of the 3.4 million 105-mm shells are surplus to requirements for South Korea. Therefore, part of this ammunition could be spent on direct military assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Moreover, Ukraine has received more than 100 different types of 105-mm howitzers as part of the Western aid, so the supply of shells of this caliber is always relevant for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Earlier Defense Express reported that South Korean satellite had recorded the movement of North Korean troops towards russia.
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