Seoul may accept Russian arms as debt repayment

The Seoul government would consider accepting a number of Russian weapons as part of Moscow`s repayment of $1.7 billion owed to South Korea, the weekly Defense News said.

In its Feb. 19 issue, the American defense industry magazine quoted Korean and Russian officials and businessmen as saying that a Korean military mission would study the possibility of importing various types of military equipment from Russia. The arms, valued at several hundred million dollars, might include transport planes, refueling aircraft, helicopters, trainers and hovercraft, according to analysts.

Korean officials reported that negotiations were not yet over but that they were likely to be concluded soon, the weekly said. It quoted well-informed Korean defense ministry sources as saying that representatives of the two countries met Feb. 6-9 to review the list of prospective imports. Korean officials reportedly showed the most interest in Il-76 transports, Mill helicopters, Il-78 air tankers and hovercraft.

Russia previously sold South Korea $366 million in BMP-3 combat vehicles for infantrymen, T80 tanks and Kamov naval reconnaissance helicopters, the Defense News said.

Yonhap