S. Korea to donate warships and boats to Philippines

Source: www.ibtimes.co.uk 

South Korea will be donating a lightly armed warship to the Philippines after its decommission by the end of this year, the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department said Thursday.

In a statement, the department said that South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwang Jin announced the donation of one of its Pohang-class corvettes to the Philippine Navy when he met with Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Seoul last Friday.

"Minister Kim said South Korea's gesture is a small token compared with the great contribution of Filipino troops during the Korean War," the statement said, adding that the donation is "yet another sign of the two countries' growing defense cooperation."

South Korea has already agreed to give the Philippines a landing craft utility and 16 rubber boats.

The Philippine Navy's biggest ships are frigates, two of which were acquired in recent years from the United States, while it also has three offshore patrol vessels.

South Korea is giving the Philippine Navy a transport ship, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Monday.Seoul will also send 16 rubber boats and computers.Gazmin went to Seoul Thursday to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Kwan-jin."They gave an LCU (Landing Craft Utility), rubber boats, and computers," said Gazmin, who returned to Manila last Saturday.He did not immediately say when the equipment will arrive in the Philippines.Gazmin also discussed humanitarian assistance and disaster response with Kim.

He also expressed his gratitude for the role of South Korean troops in the ongoing rehabilitation of typhoon-hit Eastern Visayas.At least 500 South Korean troops arrived in Leyte last December to help in the construction of structures, including school buildings.They are due to return to South Korea by December this year.The transport ship will boost the capability of the Navy, Gazmin said. It can be used in the transport of troops for operations, and relief goods intended for calamity victims.Last March, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Emmanuel Bautista signed a P18.9-billion contract with Korean Aerospace Industries for the supply of 12 FA-50 fighter jets for the Philippine Air Force.