Visiting Ukrainian Advisor Requests Patriot Missiles from South Korea

It has been confirmed that a Ukrainian strategic advisor, who visited South Korea earlier this month, officially requested the support of 'Patriot (PAC-3)' systems—weapons capable of intercepting incoming enemy missiles. According to an investigation by The Hankyoreh on the 24th, Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Ukrainian advisor for strategic affairs, visited South Korea earlier this month and met with officials from the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. During these meetings, Advisor Kamyshin reportedly requested that South Korea provide the U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles currently in its possession.

The request comes against the backdrop of a shortage of air defense assets due to the prolonged war with Russia. The PAC-3 is the latest variant with a maximum interception altitude of 40 km and is known to possess the capability to intercept maneuvering Russian missiles, such as the Iskander-M.

The South Korean government is reportedly hesitant to grant the request due to concerns over strategic asset gaps, maintaining a stance that stockpiles are necessary for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. Instead of the Patriot system, the government is said to be considering providing the domestically developed Chunmoo-2 surface-to-air missile.