South Korea will for the first time sell artillery shells destined for Ukrainian forces to the United States.

The Wall Street Journal reported about this with reference to its own sources.

The purchase will take place through a confidential arms deal between Seoul and Washington.

U.S. officials familiar with the deal said that the U.S. will purchase 100,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition that will be delivered to Ukraine.

It is claimed that this is enough to supply Ukraine’s artillery units for at least several weeks of intensive fighting with the Russian invaders.

The article in the U.S. publication explains: routing the deal through the U.S. allows South Korea to stick to the letter of its public commitment not to send lethal military support to Ukraine while assisting Washington, Seoul’s paramount ally in deterring North Korea.

The Ministry of Defense in Seoul said that a South Korean company is negotiating with the United States to replenish the American stockpile of 155-mm artillery shells.

The South Korean government’s position of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged, according to the statement.

“The negotiations are happening under the premise that the U.S. will be the final user,” the statement added.

At the end of last month, South Korea denied supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine. Such a statement was made by the country’s president Yoon Suk-yeol.

Previously, the Republic of Korea declared that it would not provide lethal assistance to Ukraine and tries to avoid aggravating relations with Russia, both for economic reasons and because of the influence that Moscow may have on North Korea.

Also, back in May 2022, Canada asked if South Korea is able to export 100,000 rounds of 155-mm artillery ammunition through a diplomatic channel.