World War 3 ready? Seoul launches new 4,900-ton landing ship as North Korea tensions soar

The new 4,900-ton ship is named No Jeok Bong after one of the peaks of Yudal Mountain in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province.

Landing ships contain a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

It is the fourth vessel built in the LST-II programme designed to replace the smaller amphibious landing ships currently in operation.

The 2,600tn Go Jun Bong-class, or LST-I, landing ship has a single helipad that is used just for take off and landing.

The 4,900tn Cheon Wang Bong-class ship, on the other hand, has two helipads and can accommodate helicopters, mechanised landing craft, amphibious assault vehicles and more than 300 troops.

Jeon Jei-guk, head of the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), said in a launch ceremony: “Once the No Jeok Bong is put in combat operation, it will further strengthen our military’s assault and defence capabilities by enabling large-scale combined landing operations of the army, the navy and the air force.”

The No Jeok Bong, 127 meters long, can carry more than 120 crew and sail at a maximum speed of 23 knots, or 40 kilometres per hour.

It’s equipped with a domestically-developed combat system and a landing operation command centre, according to DAPA.

DAPA said in a statement: ”It will be tasked with transporting troops, equipment and other materials to military bases and islands. In the event of a conflict, it will be mobilised for transporting expeditious response forces.”

If necessary, it added, the ship will support international cooperation activities, including peacekeeping operations, and also carry out non-military and humanitarian missions such as disaster relief.

It will be delivered to the Navy in November next year and commissioned in 2019.

The news comes as North Korea has increased its sabre-rattling with experts indicating that dictator Kim Jong-un could be preparing for yet another missile launch.

Anita Kumar, a reporter for McClatchy News, said that the communist country could be preparing its 23rd missile test the year to coincide with a visit by US President Donald Trump to the region.

She said: “What experts are telling me, though, is that there might be a missile test by North Korea while President Trump is travelling.

“That’s going to put him on the spot while he’s in China or South Korea.”

“So that would be huge. He’d have to decide then and there how to react.”

South Korean defence sources also believe North Korea may fire a missile, according to the Yonhap News Agency.