S. Korea Launches Eighth KSS-II Submarine

South Korea today unveiled its eighth submarine in an effort to reinforce its maritime combat capability in the face of North Korea’s growing threat.

Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME), an 1800-ton Lee Beom-seok submarine is scheduled to be deployed in late 2018 after a test and review process, Yonhap reports.

Lee Beom-seok submarine is the eighth KSS 2-class submarine, ordered by the Republic of Korea Navy's (RoKN's) in early 2000s, DSME spokesman Yoon Yo-han said.

The KSS-II submarine, 65 meters (213-foot) long and 6.3 meters wide, has a crew of 40 and a maximum underwater speed of 20 knots (37 km/hour), according to the Navy. It is capable of striking aircraft and submarines, planting mines in enemy-controlled waters. It also carries long-range cruise missiles that could hit the enemy's core facilities.

Hyundai Heavy has built five out of six vessels under the contract and Daewoo Shipbuilding has delivered all of three ships, he said.