United to win: South Korea to provide Ukraine with mine detectors and demining equipment

South Korea will provide Ukraine with mine detectors and demining equipment as part of an aid package to the war-torn country.

The first deputy director of the National Security Council under the President of South Korea, Kim Tae-hyo, announced this, reports Yonhap.

What is the problem?

"After the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, Ukraine became the most polluted country in Europe with mines, bombs, and projectiles. Ukraine needs quick and thorough humanitarian demining of the territories," noted Ukraine's PM Denys Shmyhal.

Almost 180,000 square kilometers – about a third of the territory – are contaminated with explosive objects.

Kyiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Donbas regions are the most mined, according to the data of the State Emergency Service. It will take at least ten years to clear these areas.

What is the solution?

Kim noted that the country's President Yoon Suk Yeol paid a visit to Kyiv on Saturday, where during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, he promised to provide Ukraine with a package of assistance in the field of security, humanitarian aid, and reconstruction called the "Peace and Solidarity Initiative in Ukraine."

How does it work?

According to an official in the president's office, this initiative consists of nine components, three for each type of assistance, including the supply of additional security equipment.

"We plan to expand assistance with mine detectors and demining equipment, as Ukraine's need for them is extremely high," Kim said.

He said that in the near future, Seoul plans to expand this kind of military equipment supplies. And in the medium and long term, he considers the possibility of cooperation in defense projects between South Korea and Ukraine.

In addition, according to him, Ukraine has also invited South Korean businesses to invest in the construction of factories for the production of batteries and electric vehicles.

For reference:

It should be noted that on July 15, the President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and his first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived in Ukraine with an unannounced visit.

^{Photo: Facebook / Olena Zelenska}

This is the first visit of the leader of South Korea to Ukraine in the history of bilateral relations.

Yoon Seok Yeol also visited Bucha and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky. After the negotiations, they gave a joint press conference.

The Ukrainian Head also invited South Korea to join the G7 security guarantees for Ukraine.

It should be noted that within the framework of the aid package, Denmark handed over 6 drones for demining the regions of Ukraine.

In addition, a private company Nibulon is building the first demining vessel at its own expense for the State Emergency Service in Mykolaiv. In total, Nibulon want to produce 15 such vessels.