South Korea to retire patrol ship by yearend for donation to PHL

The Philippine Navy may soon get a much-needed boost to its defense capability with the donation of a corvette or lightly-armed warship from South Korea.

A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwang-jin disclosed this to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin during a meeting in Seoul on May 30, where Kim said the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) "will decommission a Pohang-class corvette by yearend for donation to the Philippine Navy."

It added the Philippine Embassy in Seoul described this as "yet another sign of the two countries’ growing defense cooperation."

According to the website of the Republic of Korea Navy, Patrol Combat Corvettes like the Pohang class are used for coastal patrols. They can be equipped for anti-ship, anti-submarine, and anti-aircraft operations.

They have a displacement of around 1,200 tons, can sail at a speed of 32 knots, and have a range of about 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilomaters). 

For his part, Gazmin noted the Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier accepted a landing craft utility and 16 rubber boats from the ROKN.

Gazmin also thanked Kim for South Korea’s contribution to the rehabilitation of areas devastated by super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last year.

Korean troops 'much loved' in Tacloban

Gazmin added Korean soldiers based in Tacloban are much loved after establishing good ties with local residents.

Kim replied Seoul's gesture was a small token compared to the great contribution of Filipino troops during the Korean War.

South Korea dispatched the 540-member “Araw Unit” in December 2013 as part of humanitarian assistance efforts to help those affected by Yolanda.

"The next batch composed of 300 soldiers is due to take the place in rotation of the first group later this month," the DFA said.

Kim added South Korean troops will stay in the country until December 2014, after President Benigno Aquino III recently approved the terms of reference for a six-month extension of ROK’s non-combat mission. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News