MANILA, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine navy will receive two high-speed vessels this year from the government of South Korea, as South Korea's defense minister promised on Wednesday during his visit to Manila.

    During his visit to the headquarters of the Philippine Navy, South Korea's Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-Ung said "Seoul would deliver the two Patrol Killer Medium (PKM) gunboats by the middle of the 2006."

    The two second-hand vessels were negotiated in 2003 and are expected to boost the Philippines' coastal surveillance capability in its maritime security operations, according to a press release issued by the Philippine Navy after the visit.

    Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mayuga hailed the good ties shared between the two countries' navies.

    The transfer of the two vessels is a part of South Korea's security assistance package pledged to the Philippines in 1994, when the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding on naval cooperations.

    The delegation from South Korea led by Yoon Kwang-Ung arrived in Manila Tuesday on a three-day visit to the country. Enditem