South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a South Korea-Mongolia business forum in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 09 July 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
July 9 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's presidential office said Thursday the United States does not appear to rule out the possibility of building U.S. military vessels in South Korea as part of shipbuilding cooperation requested by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The comments raised expectations that talks between the two allies on ships and shipbuilding could gain momentum, alongside the joint shipbuilding cooperation project known as MASGA.
"We have the impression that the U.S. side is not ruling out construction in South Korea," a senior presidential official said during a briefing at the press center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The official cautioned, however, that U.S. law distinguishes among warships, military support vessels and commercial-type vessels used for military support.
