Korea urged to have 3 to 4 naval task groups to protect Dokdo, Ieodo

Korea should drastically increase its naval task group capabilities in order to more effectively protect its sovereignty over its easternmost and southernmost islets, said a government report released on Sunday.

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's (DAPA) report, the Navy should have at least three to four task groups to safeguard Dokdo in the East Sea and Ieodo in the South Sea from foreign territorial claims.

A naval task group usually consists of two Aegis destroyers, two Korean-type destroyers, 16 antisubmarine helicopters, one amphibious landing ship, two 3,000-ton-class submarines, three maritime patrol aircraft and one logistics support ship.

In February 2010, Korea established its first naval task group with some 10 vessels, including the King Sejong Aegis warship.

The DAPA said it has drawn up the report on condition that South Korea's neighboring countries would mobilize about 30 percent of their naval capabilities in case of military conflict near the border islands.

The DAPA report, released by Rep. Ahn Gyu-baek of the main opposition Democratic United Party, noted that the establishment of four naval task groups will cost 22 trillion won (US$19.8 billion) and require 6,100 naval troops.

"The DAPA's blueprint for reinforced naval task groups can hardly be attained under the '2012-2030' long-term defense reform plan," said Rep. Ahn.

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin agreed to the purport of the report in a parliamentary audit session on Friday but said, "The government will begin the construction of six next-generation destroyers, as the (DAPA-proposed) project will take a long time."

Tensions flared anew between Seoul and Tokyo after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak made an unprecedented visit to the East Sea islets in August. Japan, which has claimed Dokdo as its territory, strongly protested the visit.

Ieodo, which is 4.6 meters under sea level, lies south of Jeju Island within the overlapping exclusive economic zones of Korea and China. Although international maritime law stipulates that a submerged rock cannot be claimed as territory by any country, Korea effectively controls Ieodo, which is closer to it than any other country.