SEOUL, Jan 19 (Reuters) – The U.S. Department of Defense has asked its forces stationed in South Korea to provide equipment to help Ukraine in the war against Russia, the U.S. military said on Thursday, adding that the measure has “zero impact” on its operations in the Asian country.
US Forces Korea (USFK), which has about 28,500 troops in South Korea, said the move was part of US efforts to help Ukraine with its stockpiles.
“This has zero impact on our operations and our ability to deliver on our firm commitment to the defense of our ally, the Republic of Korea,” USFK spokesman Colonel Isaac Taylor said in a statement.
USFK declined to provide further details, including what types of equipment and how much has been requested or already transferred.
The statement comes after the New York Times reported earlier this week that the United States was diverting munitions in Israel and South Korea to Ukraine for use in the war against Russia. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine “a special operation”.
Asked about the report, Seoul’s Ministry of Defense said it is in close coordination with the United States to maintain the readiness posture.
South Korea’s policy is not to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons. Seoul has sought to avoid antagonizing Russia, both for economic reasons and for the influence Moscow can wield over North Korea.
A US official said in November that Washington was in talks with South Korea to buy artillery shells to send to Ukraine, although Seoul insisted the United States must be the end user of the ammunition.
Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell
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