S.Korea wins mineral exploration rights in Tonga

SEOUL, April 4 (Reuters) - South Korea has won exclusive rights to explore the resource-rich waters off the South Pacific island of Tonga and believes the licence would help the mineral-hungry country cut annual metal import costs by $100 million.

The maritime affairs ministry said Tonga's government had granted it rights to explore a 20,000 square km area, which it estimates holds 300,000 tonnes of annual reserves of metals such as copper, zinc, gold and silver over 30 years.

It plans to review commercial viability of the area until 2010 in the South Pacific region, which has attracted global resources firms such as Canada's underwater explorer Nautilus Minerals (NUS.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Britain's Neptune. (Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Keiron Henderson)