Ulsan: The Navy is set to hold a launch ceremony for a new Aegis destroyer next week, a strategic move aimed at enhancing the military's air defense capabilities against North Korean missile threats. Officials announced the upcoming event on Monday, highlighting the significance of the state-of-the-art vessel in national defense strategies.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ceremony will take place at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, located approximately 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on September 17. The 8,200-ton destroyer, named after Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, a prominent thinker from the Joseon Dynasty, is set to become the Navy's fifth Aegis destroyer upon its delivery next year.

The new destroyer boasts advanced radar-evading capabilities and is equipped with the latest Aegis combat system. This system enhances its ability to detect, track, and intercept ballistic missiles, a critical feature in countering aerial threats. Additionally, the warship is anticipated to house the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) ship-based surface-to-air missile system, which can intercept incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers.

The Dasan Jeong Yak-yong destroyer marks the second installment in Seoul's acquisition of three 8,200-ton Aegis destroyers under the Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II project. The first of these, the Jeongjo the Great destroyer, was commissioned by the Navy in December of the previous year.