This photo shows Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pa., U.S. acquired by Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group last year. Courtesy of Hanwha Group

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States may use allies in its efforts to build naval vessels, amid expectations that his second administration might seek cooperation with Korea's shipbuilding industry after taking office later this month.

Trump made the remarks in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show, a conservative radio program, amid calls for America to bolster its shipbuilding capacity amid an intensifying rivalry with China. China is known to have over 230 times the shipbuilding capacity of the U.S.

During a call with now-impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol in November, Trump said the U.S. seeks to work with Korea in the shipbuilding industry, particularly in naval shipbuilding, exports, repairs and maintenance, Yoon's office has said.

"We are going to do something with ships. We need ships and we may have to go a different route than you would normally go," Trump said.

"We used to build a ship a day. We don't build ships anymore. We want to get that started and maybe, we'll use allies also in terms of building ships. We might have to," he added.

The incoming president pointed out that while China keeps constructing ships, the U.S. is "sitting back and watching."

"We may have to go to others (and) bid them out. And it's okay to do that. We'll bid them out until we get ourselves ready," he said. "We are not prepared for ships. We don't have docks."

He also said that there will be an announcement on "very good" things related to the Navy, but did not elaborate further.

Asked if he intends to rebuild the Navy, Trump mentioned his choice of John Phelan, a businessman, as the next Navy secretary.

"We have a great gentleman ... He's fantastic ... very successful businessperson. He's in charge of it," he said.

Calls have been growing for the U.S. to shore up its shipbuilding industry in cooperation with its allies as China is beefing up its naval might based on its massive capacity to build warships. China is known to possess the world's largest maritime fighting force operating 234 warships to the U.S. Navy's 219.

Korea's shipbuilders have been seeking to tap into the U.S. market as America seeks to address a production shortage for its naval fleet.

Last year, Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group acquired Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking the first entry of a Korean firm into the U.S. shipbuilding industry. (Yonhap)