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

Officials from a U.S.

House Appropriations subcommittee visited shipyards in Korea operated by 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.

The U.S. officials also visited the shipyard of Samsung Heavy Industries in Geoje to inspect the firm's overall shipbuilding capabilities, including its replenishment oilers, sources said, without disclosing the date of the visit.

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 ...