Leaked Pentagon documents appear to reveal a sensitive conversation between high-level South Korean officials on whether to sell weapons that could be used in Ukraine.
The intercept targeted two of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s senior advisors.
They are torn between US pressure to send ammunition to Ukraine and their policy not to arm countries at war.
One of the advisers suggests sending the shells to Poland instead, to avoid appearing to have given in to the US.
Washington has been scrambling to trace the source of the leaks, which the Pentagon says are a serious risk to national security.
According to the document, South Korea’s national security advisor, Mr Kim, then suggested they could sell shells to Poland instead, given that “getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the ultimate goal of the United States.