Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is at war with Russia, said in an interview with KBS that the Ukrainian delegation that will soon visit Korea will officially request weapons support from the Korean government, saying, “We will be requesting artillery power and air defense systems.” Artillery is a general term for artillery power and is a concept that encompasses guns and shells. It has been reported that Ukraine has unofficially requested on several occasions, through the United States and other countries, support for 155mm artillery shells, a representative artillery force that is being consumed on a large scale in the war.
President Zelenskyy said this in an interview with KBS on the 31st. When asked whether “South Korean government officials have stated that Ukraine has never requested 155mm artillery shells,” President Zelensky neither confirmed nor denied, saying, “I think we have approached Korea very cautiously so far.” This was interpreted to mean that instead of requesting artillery support directly from our side, they indirectly requested artillery support through the international community, including the United States.
President Zelenskyy mentioned that the situation in the Russia-Ukraine war has become very serious due to the recent dispatch of more than 10,000 North Korean troops, saying, “After North Korea gained the official status of an army that came to fight Ukrainian citizens, we will not provide specific (weapons).” “We will submit a request for support,” he said. The North Korean military indicated that it would make direct and more specific requests for weapons support, such as artillery shells, to South Korea in the future once its deployment to fierce battlefields and participation in the war begins in earnest. As it appears that an actual battle between North Korean troops will take place soon, the Ukrainian delegation that will soon visit Korea is expected to play this role.
He said, “(Submission of a specific weapons request) will be made when our representative visits Korea,” and “(Our delegation) will discuss weapons support.” He continued, “I don’t know what kind of response South Korea will give, but we really hope to receive help,” and mentioned artillery power, including artillery shells, and air defense systems as the top priorities for requesting support.
Regarding the weapons Ukraine currently needs most, he said, “Defense, especially air defense systems,” and emphasized, “We do not have enough time to build a complete air defense system against Russia.” In the case of the artillery power that Zelensky said he would request, 500,000 rounds were already provided in a roundabout way last year by our government lending them to the United States, and recently our government also lent Ukraine 70,000 to 80,000 of these artillery shells to the United States. It is known that support was provided in a detour.
Meanwhile, regarding the recent spread of various unconfirmed rumors that North Korean troops have already been deployed to the battlefield and that many of them were killed in the fierce fighting, Zelensky said, “The fighting has not begun and the North Korean military has not yet participated in the battle.”
Regarding what the North Korean military can gain by dispatching troops, he said, “North Korea will gain experience by working at a drone factory in Russia,” and “(North Korea’s deployment of troops) includes military training that teaches ballistics, drones, air defense networks, and combat tactics on the battlefield.” He said. There were concerns that the North Korean military could use the dispatch of troops as an opportunity to increase its military power. In particular, it is interpreted that they have accumulated technology related to low-cost self-destructive drones, which are very effective in neutralizing expensive tanks and missile radar systems in modern warfare, and have expressed concerns about using this technology in Korea. This suggests that the North Korean military’s accumulation of combat experience through the deployment of troops could soon become a threat to South Korea’s security.
Reporter Son Hyo-joo hjson@donga.com
Source: www.donga.com
