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.