US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is expected to visit South Korea as early as next week, sources with knowledge of the matter said Thursday, a trip likely aimed at discussing shipbuilding cooperation in line with the Donald Trump administration's initiatives.
Phelan's office has finalized the plan and is fine-tuning the details of the itinerary with government officials and relevant industries in Seoul, according to the sources.
Phelan is likely to visit major South Korean shipyards during his visit, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, to discuss cooperation in the maintenance, repair and operations of fleet.
President Donald Trump has specifically highlighted shipbuilding as an area the United States and South Korea should cooperate on, as he is pushing to restore the industry as part of his "America First" policy.
Trump also mentioned the importance of shipbuilding cooperation during his phone talks with acting President Han Duck-soo earlier this month. (Yonhap)
