The Navy announced Wednesday a plan to move its operational command to Busan, the country's largest port city along the southeast coast, by the end of this year, citing a need to enhance combat readiness.
The Naval Operational Command is now located in Jinhae, a southern port city known for its topographic advantages. But the waters off the coast of Jinhae are said to be too shallow to
accommodate brand-new huge vessels.
The 3rd Fleet Command, currently in Busan, will be transferred to Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, around December, a Navy spokesman said.
"We took into account how we can utilize ports in Busan and Mokpo to carry out joint naval operations with the United States more effectively," the spokesman said.
The Navy commissioned its first 14,000-ton large-deck landing ship named Dokdo earlier this month. It also launched a KDX-III Aegis destroyer and an 1,800-ton attack submarine in May and June, respectively, as part of efforts to become a blue-ocean navy.