Canadian Secretary of Defense Anita Anand talks with Canadian military personnel during a visit to highlight military assistance to Ukraine at the Trenton Canadian Forces base in Trenton, Ontario, Canada, April 14, 2022. REUTERS / Lars Hagberg / File Photo
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SEOUL, May 30 (Reuters) – Canada has asked South Korea to supply it with artillery shells, Seoul said Monday, apparently to “fill” supplies Ottawa has sent to Ukraine, increasing pressure on South Korea to provide – at least indirectly – deadly aid in the war.
Canada has provided Ukraine with towed M777 howitzers that fire 155-millimeter shells. Last week, Secretary of Defense Anita Anand announced that Canada would send an additional 20,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition delivered from the United States.
A spokesman for South Korea’s defense ministry confirmed that Ottawa had made the request, but would not elaborate, saying “there are no formal procedures involved in the request.”
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South Korean broadcaster SBS, citing an unnamed senior South Korean defense ministry official, said the deal could involve up to 100,000 shells from South Korea’s reserves, possibly sold below market value.
“We are actively pursuing a plan to provide 100,000 rounds of ammunition to Canada,” the official told SBS.
Global Affairs Canada, which manages diplomatic and consular relations, and Canada’s Department of National Defense did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
South Korea is a major producer of 155mm ammunition, with its K9 self-propelled howitzer dominating the international market. K9 is used by several European countries, including Finland, Norway and Estonia, but South Korea has said it has no plans to provide lethal aid to Ukraine.
South Korea has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine and sent non-lethal items, including armored helmets and medical kits.
The administration of former President Moon Jae-in has rejected requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for armored vehicles and anti-aircraft, anti-tank and anti-ship weapons.
New South Korean President Yun Suk Yol, who took office on May 10th, has expressed interest in closer co-operation with Washington, raising speculation that he will go to the green light for at least some indirect deadly aid to Ukraine.
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Report by Soo-hyang Choi. Additional reports by Amran Abokar in Ottawa. Writing by Josh Smith; Edited by Simon Cameron-Moore
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