Korea’s arms procurement agency has again postponed a final decision on how to award the Korea Next-Generation Destroyer (KDDX) project, opting instead for a designated competitive bidding process after nearly two years of deadlock. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Monday that the Defense Project Promotion Committee had approved a plan to select a contractor for the detailed design and construction of the lead KDDX vessel through a competition limited to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean. The agency will now redraw its master plan for the ship’s detailed design and construction, a blueprint that must clear a final committee hurdle before formal bids are solicited. While the move introduces another layer of administrative review to an already stalled program, officials insist they are committed to an aggressive timeline, aiming to finalize a contract by the end of next year. A DAPA official said the committee reached a unanimous decision after extensive deliberation. “Many members emphasized the need to restore fairness through competition, while