Goseong: A new 3,600-ton Navy frigate was successfully launched into the sea Friday, the armed service said, as it seeks to introduce new warships to replace its aging vessels. The launch ceremony for the ROKS Gyeongbuk took place earlier in the day at SK Oceanplant's shipyard in the southern county of Goseong, about 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the 129-meter-long warship is armed with anti-ship missiles and long-range torpedoes. It is equipped with a multi-function radar capable of detecting and tracking aerial and ship targets. The vessel is set to undergo further testing and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in June next year, when it will be ready for operational deployment.