The Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) has developed a deep-sea autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that is depth-rated to 6,000 m., Korea.net reports.
Construction of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) will be completed in March 2006 and inaugural test of its performance will be conducted in April in depths of 2,000 m. around Ulleung Island, 87 km east of the Dokdo islets in the East Sea.
The vehicle will be launched in the Pacific in September 2006 to survey South Korea's mining zone between the Clarion and Clipperton islands that was allotted by the International Seabed Authority, according to the report.
Source: Korea.net