Notify Korea before increasing ATACMS range
“The battle will become more intense before the Trump administration takes office.”
“Ukraine defense capabilities need to be supplemented.”
“The timing of weapons support has not yet been discussed.”
“/> news/cms/202411/19/news-p.v1.20241118.113122d261644f6989b8a2927171e3cb_R.jpg" data-width="2835" data-height="1890" /> Enlarge photo Live-fire test scene of the Army Tactical Guided Missile System (ATACMS)
It has been confirmed that the United States notified Korea in advance of its policy to allow strikes on the Russian mainland during the war in Ukraine.
On the 18th (local time), an official from the Presidential Office was asked at the local press room in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the G20 summit meeting was held, whether there had been prior discussions between Korea and the United States regarding the approval of the US ATACMS (Army Tactical Guided Missile System). “The U.S. side notified us in advance that it would increase the range (which the U.S. already provided to Ukraine) and allow it to strike the Russian mainland,” he said.
However, he declined to say whether there had been prior discussions between Korea and the United States regarding this.
This official continued, “It is not a matter for me to explain in detail enough to reveal to the media. If the United States decides, we will notify you in advance, but there is no need for our country to directly participate in this issue and take action, so we will follow the United States’ decision.” “It was shared,” he added.
ATACMS, which the United States recently approved for use in Ukraine, is a ballistic missile with a range of about 300 km and is capable of striking the Russian mainland. There is a possibility that this missile will first be used for defense purposes by the Ukrainian military in the Kursk region in western Russia.
This response from the President’s Office appears to highlight the fact that cooperation between Korea and the United States is progressing well regarding the war in Ukraine.
Regarding the issue of arms support to Ukraine, an official from the President’s Office said, “The ROK-US alliance can exchange as many weapons systems as necessary, but no decision has yet been made regarding Ukraine, and no specific discussions have begun.” He added, “We are not discussing such (weapons support). “NATO and the U.S. government are doing it, and our country can only find out (whether or not to support it) by first listening to the special envoy’s story,” he said.
However, “If Russia ignores the international community’s recommendations and does not stop cooperating in the Ukraine war, it is necessary to supplement Ukraine’s own defense capabilities, so NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the United States, and South Korea, an ally of the United States, are also concerned about this issue. “We need to look more carefully and pay more attention to this in the future,” he said.
When asked about the prospects for an end to the war in Ukraine, an official from the President’s Office said, “From Russia’s point of view, they are putting all their power into seizing more land and waiting for a peace agreement before the new U.S. administration comes in.” He added, “It is not a matter of policy now. “We can easily predict that the fighting will intensify in the given time of one or two months before the remaining unpredictability approaches,” he explained. He continued, “Taking everything into consideration, Korea is also seriously looking into this issue with its allies, and we will share information to make a decision.”
Rio de Janeiro = Reporter Woo Je-yoon
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What are the potential implications of the US decision to extend the range of the ATACMS for regional security in Northeast Asia, particularly for South Korea?
Guest 1: Korea has been closely following the war in Ukraine and its implications for regional security. As a key US ally in the region, how do you assess the impact of the US decision to increase the range of its Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and allow it to be used against the Russian mainland? What measures has the South Korean government taken to prepare for any potential fallout from this decision?
Guest 2: The South Korean government has been cautious about the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, recognizing its potential impact on the security situation in Northeast Asia. How do you see the role of the US-ROK alliance in mitigating the risks associated with the war in Ukraine, and what kind of support can South Korea offer to its American ally in this regard?
