South Korea launched its first-ever missile-capable attack submarine on Friday, despite a recent diplomatic thaw with the nuclear-armed North. ADVERTISEMENTIt represented a “leap forward in the country’s”defense industry, President Moon Jae-in told a launch ceremony at the Daewoo shipyard where it was designed and built. The new submarine is fitted with six vertical launch tubes and features indigenous sonar and combat management systems. Aside from the new vessels, South Korea has an existing fleet of 18 smaller submarines, all built in co-operation with Germany. According to the defense ministry, the North has 70 aging submarines and submersibles, and Yonhap news agency reported that it has also developed a new 2,500-tonne submarine fitted with a vertical launch system.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 14, 2018 09:04 UTC