{"id":53374,"date":"2018-05-21T14:17:36","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T14:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/21\/south-korea-changes-mission-for-its-newly-launched-assault-ship\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:54:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:54:43","slug":"south-korea-changes-mission-for-its-newly-launched-assault-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2018\/05\/21\/south-korea-changes-mission-for-its-newly-launched-assault-ship\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea changes mission for its newly launched assault ship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL, South Korea \u2015 The South Korean Navy launched its second 14,500-ton Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship on May 14 as the landing vessel\u2019s mission shifts more toward blue-water operations than countering North Korea, whose relations<\/a> with the South has been improving following the April 27 cross-border summit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built by Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction, the Landing Platform Helicopter, named after Marado \u2015 South Korea\u2019s southernmost island \u2015 features improved design and defense systems compared to those aboard the Dokdo ship commissioned in 2007, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Marado LPH reflects improvements that have been made through the operation of the Dokdo ship,\u201d Moon Ki-jeong, head of the DAPA agency in charge of the ship acquisition program, said during the launching ceremony at the Hanjin shipyard in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul. \u201cIn particular, the ship is fitted with advanced combat and defense systems as well as an improved radar using the country\u2019s own technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t