South Korea's largest naval ship will set sail for Malaysia this weekend to participate in a defense exhibition there, the Navy said Friday.
It will mark the international debut of the 14,000-ton Dokdo Ham, an amphibious landing and transport vessel that was commissioned in July, it added.
"The Dokdo Ham will leave for Malaysia on Saturday to take part in the Lankawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition," the Navy said in a press release. "It is the first foreign trip made by the ship since it was commissioned."
The Dokdo Ham, named after South Korea's easternmost islets in the East Sea, can carry up to 700 troops, seven choppers, six tanks, seven armored vehicles and two small landing boats.
The 199-meter long, 31-meter wide vessel is equipped with a Phalanx closed-in weapons system for detecting and destroying incoming anti-ship missiles, and a Rolling Airframe Missile guided missile system.
"With its participation in the defense exhibition, the Dokdo Ham is expected to help promote the country's arms export and enhance the Navy's global status through active military diplomacy including the acquisition of up-to-date information on foreign warships and equipment," the Navy said.
The biennial event in Lankawi, Malaysia, will kick off on Dec. 2 for a eight-day run, drawing 32 warships from nine nations and more than 120 defense firms from 19 countries.
