Seoul Again Eyes Russian Military Gear

South Korea's defense minister said Monday that the government is considering purchasing Russian military equipment to retrieve part of South Korea's loans to Russia.

"We are looking into purchasing Russian-made refueling aircraft, transport planes, helicopters and hovercraft," Cho Seong-tae said Monday.

The top defense policy maker made the remarks at the National Assembly's National Defense Committee.

Initially, the ministry looked into purchasing Russian submarines, but abandoned the plan after inspecting the Russian vessels.

Russia still owes South Korea $1.7 billion of a total of $3 billion it borrowed in 1990. The two countries agreed that Russia would repay part of the loan with military equipment.

The two countries held their first meeting on military technology, defense and logistics cooperation Thursday.