Most positive news: military expert Zgurets on potential South Korean weapon supplies to Ukraine

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"I think this is the most positive news related to the possibility of strengthening our defense industry and the Armed Forces, because the potential of South Korea is something we have not used so far. In fact, this country has already become a leader in the production and export of a significant number of weapons, ranging from tanks, aircraft, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, air defense systems, and long-range weapons. South Korea demonstrates a number of advantages over European and American suppliers. What is this manifested in? Firstly, flexibility and the possibility of lending. Secondly, the country is moving towards the development of licensed production on the customer's territory. Poland is currently using this," said Sergiy Zgurets.

According to him, another important factor is that South Korean weapons are priced lower than their American and European counterparts. For example, there is a model with similar characteristics and nearly identical technical parameters, priced at $900,000 from the American supplier, $400,000 from the European supplier, and just $100,000 from the South Korean supplier.

"We hope that this window of opportunity that is now being created will be used by the Ukrainian side. Our delegations have repeatedly traveled to South Korea and held talks, but at the time the Koreans were reluctant to supply arms. Now the situation is changing. First of all, we would like to receive ammunition. There are ammunition production lines in South Korea, so we can talk about the possibility of deploying ammunition production in Ukraine. Secondly, artillery systems purchased by Poland and Romania, although these systems are not NATO standards, the quality, efficiency, and speed of delivery surpasses all other countries. It is also worth mentioning that South Korea is developing air defense systems and long-range strike systems a la HIMARS and ATACMS," the military expert commented.

Zgurets added that missiles and ammunition produced by South Korea are compatible with the systems currently in Ukraine's possession. Consequently, Ukraine can negotiate with Seoul for the purchase of ATACMS missiles and discuss the possibility of establishing joint production facilities in Ukraine.

• Previously, South Korea provided only humanitarian support to Ukraine. Recent deliveries include 70 ambulances, 10 demining vehicles, etc. 
• In addition, South Korea said it would provide Ukraine with $12 million in financial assistance to be spent on rehabilitation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and $2.1 billion in soft loans over the next five years to be used for reconstruction projects.
• On June 20, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that South Korea would face decisions that Seoul would not like if it supplied Ukraine with lethal weapons.