South Korean presidential aide seeks fair evaluation for submarine deal in Canada

SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Wednesday he has asked for key Canada officials to make an "objective and fair" evaluation of South Korea's capability to build submarines, as Seoul is pushing to win a major Canadian submarine deal.

Kang wrote the message on his Facebook page, as he was visiting Canada as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy for strategic economic cooperation amid Seoul's push to win a landmark contract to supply 12 naval submarines to Ottawa.

During a meeting with Marc-Andre Blanchard, chief of staff to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Kang said he "discussed ways to expand energy partnership and cooperation among middle powers, and asked for Canada's objective and fair evaluation in consideration of the excellence of South Korean submarines and economic impacts through industrial cooperation."

During his visit to Canada's Senate, Kang said he explained the economic impact Seoul's proposal to expand industrial cooperation in connection with the submarine project would have on the Canadian economy and asked for the Canadian parliament's support for Seoul's bid.

In a meeting with Industry Minister Melanie Joly, Kang said he highlighted that South Korea's cooperation with Canada on submarines will help boost economic growth and create around 430,000 jobs by 2044.

He also met with Energy Minister Tim Hodgson to discuss energy cooperation on imports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as key minerals.

A South Korean consortium is vying with Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to secure the submarine contract, with the final winner expected to be announced in late June.