"MRO Cooperation Contributes to Enhancing U.S. Navy Readiness"
Secretary Phelan to Visit HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean on the Afternoon of the 30th
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Ducksoo met with U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on April 30 to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding sector.
On the morning of the same day, Han received Secretary Phelan at the Seoul Government Complex. This marks the first visit to South Korea by a U.S. cabinet-level official since the launch of President Donald Trump's second administration.
During the meeting, Han emphasized that the South Korea-U.S. alliance has evolved over the past 70 years into one of the most successful alliances, serving as a cornerstone for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. He expressed hope for continued close communication with the U.S. side to ensure the alliance remains strong and continues to develop. Han also introduced the ongoing Korea-U.S. trade consultations as a prime example of such efforts and requested continued support for the advancement of the alliance.
Han particularly highlighted that cooperation in the shipbuilding sector is a representative area where both countries can achieve a win-win outcome, stressing that South Korea is the optimal partner to support the revitalization of the U.S. shipbuilding industry. He added that he looks forward to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding based on the trust built through the successful maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. naval vessels by Korean companies.
Secretary Phelan, in turn, expressed his pleasure at visiting South Korea as his first overseas trip since taking office and said he was deeply impressed by the country's development. He agreed on the need to further strengthen Korea-U.S. cooperation in shipbuilding to enhance the readiness of the U.S. Navy and revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry. In particular, he noted that successful MRO cooperation between the two countries has greatly contributed to improving the U.S. Navy's readiness and pledged to make every effort to actively promote shipbuilding cooperation with Korean companies in the future.
During his visit to South Korea, Secretary Phelan is also scheduled to visit the headquarters of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan and Hanwha Ocean's Geoje facility in South Gyeongsang Province in the afternoon. It is reported that the top management of both companies, which are leading players in the special ship sector, will be present for Secretary Phelan's visit. Secretary Phelan also conveyed during his meeting with Han that although his stay in South Korea is brief, he is looking forward to visiting Korean shipyards in person and witnessing the progress of the Korean shipbuilding industry.
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