"Very Important"... US Navy Eyes K-Chosun While Mentioning 'Hanwha'

Hanwha's Acquisition of Philly Shipyard Mentioned
Shipbuilding Cited as the Biggest Challenge

Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of the Navy emphasized the need for U.S.-South Korea shipbuilding cooperation while mentioning Hanwha Group’s acquisition of a U.S. shipyard.

On the 27th (local time), John Fellen, nominee for U.S. Secretary of the Navy, stated during the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing in response to a question from Representative Dan Sullivan (Alaska, Republican) about "cooperation measures to utilize allied shipbuilding capabilities," "We definitely need to look at the expertise and technology that foreign partners have."

He added, "Hanwha recently acquired the Philadelphia shipyard (Philly Shipyard)," emphasizing, "I think it is very important to attract their capital and technology here (to the U.S.)."

In a written response previously submitted to the Armed Services Committee, nominee Fellen identified shipbuilding as the biggest challenge if confirmed as Secretary of the Navy.

Hanwha Group completed all procedures last year to acquire Philly Shipyard located in Philadelphia, U.S. It is expected that Philly Shipyard will be utilized as a major hub for U.S. Navy shipbuilding and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations.

Earlier, shortly after his election on November 7 last year, President Trump mentioned shipbuilding as a field requiring cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. during a call with President Yoon Suk-yeol, stating, "I am well aware of Korea’s world-class military shipbuilding capabilities." The U.S. government judges that its naval power is significantly inferior to China’s and is seeking to rebuild its domestic naval shipbuilding base through alliances and cooperation. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly considering visiting related facilities during his planned trip to South Korea next month.

Additionally, nominee Fellen stated, "I will seek and advance opportunities to enhance interoperability with partner countries in priority regions such as the Indo-Pacific." He also said, "We will leverage the capabilities of partner countries to strengthen collective security," adding, "This will help reduce the burden on the U.S. and U.S. taxpayers."