Korean Navy launches LPX

South Korea will launch a 13,000 tonne large-deck landing ship as part of its naval force improvement programme. The amphibious ship, called LPX, was unveiled at Hanjin Heavy Industries shipyard in Busan and is the first of the two LPXs the Navy plans to develop by 2010. The new LPX class of landing ships will be able to carry 700 troops, 10 CH-60 helicopters, seven amphibious vehicles, six tanks and two small landing boats.