Vietnam to buy S. Korean boats

Vietnam to buy S. Korean boats

SEOUL (AFP): Vietnam is seeking to buy patrol boats from South
Korea, raising hope for the first arms purchase between the two
countries since they normalized ties in 1992, a defense ministry
spokesman said yesterday.

Vietnam wants to import three to five patrol boats worth
US$7.5 million each from South Korea through the trading arm of
the Hyundai Group, the spokesman said.

"It will take some time, maybe several months, before the
government finishes talks among the relevant ministries,
including the foreign ministry, and give a greenlight to the
deal," the spokesman said.

He said that South Korea, which produces many weapons under US
license, could export the ships without approval from Washington
because they are all produced with local expertise.

But observers here said the deal could draw attention from
Washington, which has only recently set up diplomatic ties with
Hanoi.

The 80-ton patrol boats, which have a top speed of 40 nautical
miles an hour, have already been exported to other Southeastern
Asian countries, including the Philippines and Indonesia, the
Hankook Ilbo daily said.