Ulsan:Seoul Senior officials from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps visited the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on November 4 to evaluate its naval shipbuilding capabilities.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the visit was part of a joint effort by Seoul and Washington to revive the U.S. shipbuilding industry under the "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again" initiative. The delegation included Brendan P. Rogers, assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy for energy, installations, and environment; U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Andrew M. Niebel, deputy commandant for installations and logistics; and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Valerie A. Jackson, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea.

During their visit, the officials assessed the shipyard's infrastructure, logistics support, and explored opportunities to enhance maritime sustainment and operational readiness. They also discussed ways to reinforce the South Korea-U.S. alliance. Additionally, HD Hyundai signed an agreement in October with U.S. engineering firm Kiewit to establish a joint venture for a new shipyard in the United States, with construction planned to begin next year and full operations set for 2029.