(Yonhap Interview) U.S. Navy secretary hopes for more cooperation with Korean shipbuilders amid U.S. shipbuilding push
SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has expressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with South Korea in naval ship maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), encouraging Korean shipyards to bid on further American naval ship overhaul opportunities.
In an exclusive written interview with Yonhap News Agency conducted following his first official visit to South Korea last week, Phelan said the U.S. Navy welcomes further collaboration with South Korean shipyards as part of a broader effort to revitalize America's maritime industrial base.
"There is already cooperation in this area. In fact, the USNS Yukon is currently undergoing MRO at Hanwha Ocean," Phelan told Yonhap News Agency. "We are looking forward to continued collaboration in this sector and encourage ROK shipyards to bid on continued MRO opportunities with the U.S. Navy."
ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Phelan was the first high-ranking U.S. official under the second Donald Trump administration to make an official visit to South Korea.
Phelan's comments came days after he met with Han Duck-soo, South Korea's then acting president, and toured the facilities of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and Hanwha Ocean Co. in Geoje, also in the southern region, as part of a two-nation Asia trip that also took him to Japan.
In his meeting with Han, Phelan discussed shipbuilding as a "top priority" of his South Korean visit and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Han, in turn, outlined strategic areas for deeper bilateral defense cooperation, including naval shipbuilding and high-end technologies.
Since his successful reelection in November, Trump has stressed the need for the revival of the U.S. shipbuilding industry and the importance of partnering with allies, including South Korea, a global leader in naval vessel construction.
"South Korean shipyards are conducting maintenance, repair, and overhaul of U.S. Navy ships in South Korea, and have invested in American shipyards. We look forward to further discussion and collaboration soon," Phelan noted.
The secretary also underscored that South Korea's shipbuilding industry could play a greater role in supporting the U.S. Navy's needs.
"I am extremely impressed with South Korea's shipbuilding capabilities, and my visits to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean shipyards have only served to reinforce this. I look forward to sharing these impressions with the president (Trump)," he said.
At HD Hyundai Heavy in Ulsan, Phelan met with the company's Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, who highlighted the company's long-standing expertise in naval shipbuilding and emphasized the importance of strategic South Korea-U.S. cooperation for maritime security. He also inspected the Jeongjo the Great, an 8,200-ton guided missile destroyer for the South Korean Navy, at the company's facility.
At Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard, Phelan was briefed by Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan on the company's portfolio of U.S. Navy-related projects, including the ongoing MRO work for the 31,000-ton replenishment oiler USNS Yukon.
Kim also cited Hanwha Ocean's 2024 acquisition of Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia as evidence of the company's commitment to investing in the U.S. shipbuilding base.
"In order to remain the world's dominant maritime power, we must increase capacity to both build new ships and conduct maintenance. It is my hope that shipyards in South Korea will play a crucial role in helping revitalize America's maritime industrial base through foreign direct investment and sharing best practices," Phelan said.
Phelan also highlighted America's deeper cooperation with South Korea as part of a broader strategy to address intensifying challenges from China's maritime expansion and North Korea's growing naval capabilities.
To this end, the secretary reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between the allied navies.
"As we continue to confront the threats posed by North Korea and China, it's essential that our forces are integrated and capable of responding rapidly to any crisis," Phelan said.
He added, "By strengthening our alliance and exploring further cooperation, we ensure that our two navies remain ready to defend freedom and ensure the safety of global shipping lanes."
The secretary also pointed to potential areas of industrial and technological collaboration.
"The U.S. Navy is looking to continue to strengthen collaboration with South Korea to benefit both nations. That's why I came to South Korea, and I can assure you that these discussions on collaboration will continue," he said.
Before arriving in South Korea, Phelan visited Japan, where he toured a local shipyard and met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to explore bilateral cooperation in naval ship maintenance.
During his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year, Phelan highlighted Hanwha Ocean's acquisition of Philly Shipyard last year, calling it a very important opportunity to attract South Korean capital and technology into America.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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