Cheong Wa Dae said on the 16th that, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump noting the need for "cooperation with Korean corporations" to strengthen naval power, "we plan to discuss concrete cooperation measures through working-level consultations and other channels."
Cheong Wa Dae said, "Based on the shared view between Korea and the United States that cooperation in shipbuilding is important for developing the future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance, we are exploring ways to boost cooperation in shipbuilding-related fields," adding, "as there is consensus between the two leaders on mutually beneficial cooperation in shipbuilding, we hope to flesh out cooperation measures through bilateral consultations going forward."
Earlier, President Trump attended the "defense and innovation meeting" held on the 15th (local time) at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and said, "We used to build one ship a day in the past, but we are now lagging in shipbuilding. We must rebuild naval power." He then said, "We will be looking at a few corporations from Korea and other regions. They are cooperating with us on shipbuilding."
In particular, he also expressed a willingness to purchase warships built overseas. President Trump said, "We are building ships, but we will also purchase some that are made outside the region," explaining, "the U.S. Navy needs many warships because a large number of its ships are aging and the United States has effectively withdrawn from the shipbuilding industry."
To rebuild naval power, expanding the fleet is essential, and since U.S. shipbuilding capacity is insufficient, the remark signals an intention to cooperate with Korea, a powerhouse in shipbuilding. Although he did not directly mention "Korean-made," given that he referred to vessels built overseas, there is a possibility that purchasing warships made in Korea will be considered.