Defense Acquisition Program Administration Administrator Seok Jong-geon met with U.S. military and U.S. Ministry of National Defense officials at the Vice Minister level to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral defense industry cooperation, including MASGA (Make America Shipbuilding Great Again).
According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on the 19th, Administrator Seok visited Washington, D.C., on 15–18 (local time) and met with Vice Minister-level officials from the U.S. Ministry of National Defense and the Department of the Navy. On 17th, he met with Michael Duffy, U.S. Ministry of National Defense Vice Minister for Acquisition and Sustainment, and, while emphasizing Korea's capabilities in the acquisition of naval vessels and the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of weapons systems, discussed ways to expand defense industry cooperation between the two countries.
On 18th, he met with Brett Seidle, U.S. Department of the Navy Vice Minister, and discussed ways to expand cooperation in naval shipbuilding and MRO under the MASGA project. The two sides also exchanged views on ways to overcome legal and institutional constraints and regulatory barriers to expand cooperation.
Administrator Seok said at a forum hosted by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., on 17th, "There are legal obstacles to achieving the shipbuilding cooperation the two countries want," adding, "During this visit to the United States, I plan to meet with senior officials from the U.S. Ministry of National Defense and the Department of the Navy to discuss this."