SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The South Korean Navy is seeking to build up to three Aegis destroyers in addition to the three already planned, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday.

    The number of additional ships to be built has yet to be fixed, but the Navy is expected to raise the need for additional destroyers within the first half of the year, Yonhap quoted an unnamed Navy official as saying.

    Under a 620-trillion won (670 billion U.S. dollars) arms buildup plan, the South Korean Navy is to have three Aegis ships by 2012, but the Navy claims it needs at least six to effectively defend the country in case of war.

    South Korea launched its first Aegis destroyer in May last year. The country's first Aegis destroyer, King Sejong, is set to be commissioned in 2009 after 18 months of test operations. A second ship is scheduled to be launched in 2010, followed by a third one in 2012, Yonhap said.

    The Navy has yet to file an official request for additional Aegis ships with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but it is said to have reported the plan to the National Assembly Defense Committee.