Hoping to settle its debts, Russia is offering to sell some of the same weapons to South Korea that the Soviet Union once reserved for the North.
The weapons include some of Russia's most sophisticated: MIG-29 fighter jets, MI-24 attack helicopters, S-300 antiaircraft missiles and T-80 tanks, South Korea's news agency, Yonhap, said Thursday.During the Cold War, the South got many of its weapons from the United States while the Soviet Union supplied the Communist North.
Three years ago, Seoul lent Moscow $1.5 billion in a bid to improve relations.
Then the Soviet Union collapsed and economic reforms left Russia short of cash but still plentiful in arms.
A list of weapons for sale was presented to the South Korean embassy in Moscow this week, Yon-hap said in a dispatch from Moscow.
Yonhap said South Korea was reluctant to buy any Russian weapons but has agreed to study the offer.
South Korea has put another $1.5 billion in loans on hold until Russia brings its payments on the first loans up to date.