S Korean Arms Agency Offers 15500 Components for Domestic Production

The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has made public a list of 15,500 components of weapons systems and equipment to propel the domestic industry to manufacture them both for local consumption and export.

The agency uploaded the list of weapon parts imported between 2014 and 2016 on the website of the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality. The 15,500 items were selected among more than 50,000 components the country purchased during the period, with economic feasibility considered, Yonhap reports.

DAPA and the ruling Democratic Party had a policy consultation meeting this week with a view to helping expand arms exports and create jobs.

The measure is expected to help domestic defense firms set the direction of R&D-related projects.

"It's important to continuously explore and push for such policies as the opening of the imported component list to affect the expansion of sales and the indigenous development of weapon systems," Rep. Lee Chul-hee, the party's ranking member of the national defense committee, was quoted as saying.

DAPA plans to reveal another list of items in March next year.