MND Requests the USFK to Purchase Ammunition

It has been confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense (MND) officially requested the United States to purchase ammunition for training from a Korean defense products maker. Up until now, all ammunition for the U.S. Forces Korea’s (USFK) training has been supplied from the U.S.

According to a military source on November 14, the MND, in an SCM meeting, officially proposed to the U.S. that it purchase training ammunition for small-caliber guns used by the USFK from a Korean company.

The ammunition the MND proposed that the U.S. purchase includes about 30 kinds of munitions for smaller-than-30-mm small-caliber used for small arms such as revolvers, rifles, and machine guns.

The MND made the proposal, citing the current situation in which the U.S. has to purchase ammunition from Israel, Canada, and European countries to meet the increasing demand for ammunition in the U.S., as American ammunition makers lack production capacity.

It is reported that the MND highlighted the fact that the U.S. will be able to save logistics costs of sending purchased ammunition to the USFK if it buys ammunition made in Korea.

The U.S. reportedly replied to the MND’s proposal, “The purchase of ammunition for training in a certain region depends on the decision of the U.S. Department of Defense,” adding, “We suggest that Korean companies closely look at what the Pentagon announces about bidding.”

Last year, a Korean defense products maker signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to export 590 million ammunition pieces to it. With this as momentum, the MND is reported to have made the proposal in a bid to promote exports of Korean defense products to the U.S.

An official from the military said, “Now that our American counterparts replied that it would give a chance to Korean companies if their products are price-competitive, the MND and Korean defense products makers will actively promote ammunition export to the U.S.”

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com