S. Korean guided-missile ship deployed

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SEOUL, June 2 (UPI) -- South Korea, facing growing North Korean threats, Tuesday deployed its first guided-missile high-speed patrol boat in the western sea border, its navy said.

The effort is designed to beef up South Korea's naval defense capabilities, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea's aggressive posture has been growing, with its second nuclear test last week, followed by several short-range missile firings. Tensions in the Yellow Sea have risen after North Korea scrapped the 1950-53 Korean War truce and threatened the safety of South Korean and U.S. naval vessels in the region, the report said.

The 440-ton Yun Yeong Ha guided missile patrol boat is equipped with guided missiles that can hit targets 87 miles away and a 40-millimeter gun that can fire 600 rounds per minute, the South Korean Navy said in a statement.