US House Appropriations subcommittee officials visited Korean shipyards in July: sources

Officials from a U.S.

House Appropriations subcommittee visited shipyards in Korea operated by two major shipbuilders earlier this month to inspect their capabilities to build warships, sources said Thursday.

Eight officials from the U.S.

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense toured the shipyard of Hanwha Ocean in Geoje, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on July 11, industry and government sources familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency.

The same group visited the main shipyard run by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in the southeastern city of Ulsan a day earlier, according to the sources.

At the Hanwha plant, the officials were briefed on and observed firsthand the 3,600-ton Ulsan-class Chungnam frigate and the 3,600-ton Jang Bogo submarine.

While touring HD Hyundai's plant, they inspected the 8,200-ton Aegis-equipped Daeho Kim Jong Seo destroyer and an offshore patrol vessel set to be supplied to the Philippine Navy.

The officials reportedly expressed interest in gaining a detailed understanding of each company's shipbuilding capabilities and their plan to invest in the U ...