South Korea's Navy has launched a new Type 214-class attack submarine built by Hyundai Heavy Industries.

The Hong Beom-do, a 1,800-ton diesel-electric vessel, is the seventh Type 214 submarine in the Korean Navy, which designates Type 214s as Son Won-il-class ships.

"With its capacity to launch precision attacks on warships, submarines or any other land-based targets, the Hong Beom-do would play a pivotal role in the national defense," the Yonhap news agency quoted Navy Adm. Jung Ho-sub.

The admiral is the country's chief of naval operations.

The submarine, capable of firing guided missiles, is about 213 feet long, 20.6 feet in the beam and has a maximum speed of 20 knots.

It was launched Tuesday at a shipyard south of Seoul and will perform a shakedown cruise before joining the fleet for operations next year.

Type 214 submarines were designed by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH.