SEOUL, March 13. /TASS/. The South Korean National Defense Ministry has not changed its position on direct supplies of its weapons to Ukraine, the ministry told TASS on Monday.

"The ministry's policy on this issue has not changed," the ministry said in reply to a TASS request to comment on the decision of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to allow the delivery of Polish Krab howitzers with South Korean components to Ukraine. Seoul refuses to transfer lethal weapons directly to Ukraine. Reuters reported last week, citing a senior official, that in 2022, the South Korean National Defense Procurement Administration approved Warsaw's delivery of Polish Krab howitzers with South Korean chassis to Ukraine.

Earlier, the South Korean National Defense Ministry pointed out that the Polish howitzers used not only South Korean parts, but also British, German and French components. Seoul stressed that the Krab was not entirely a South Korean development, and therefore the transfer of these howitzers could not be considered an export of South Korean lethal weapons to Ukraine.

Poland transferred 18 Krab howitzers to Ukraine in May 2022. According to Reuters, Seoul declined to comment on the deliveries of the Polish howitzers prior to the DAPA official's statement, making it unclear whether South Korea had agreed to the export or if this was done without its direct permission. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau will visit South Korea for three days starting March 13.