The South Korean Navy received its first submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles, designed to thwart the threat of North Korea's underwater attacks.

The South Korean Navy announced in a statement that it held a launching ceremony for its submarine on Geoje Island.

South Korea designed the submarine, weighing 3,000 tons and powered by diesel. It is 83.5 meters in length and 9.6 meters in width, capable of being submerged for 20 days without surfacing.

According to the navy, the submarine is a valuable asset "for the defense of our sea, and its mere presence would intimidate the enemy."

According to military officials, the submarine will be operational in August 2022.

The ceremony occurred just days after the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labeled Seoul as "treacherous" after its joint military drills with the US. Pyongyang has warned the two countries that they will subsequently face heightened security concerns.

Days ago, Kim Jong Un announced before the governing party congress that his country had finalized preparations to build a nuclear submarine and that North Korea was also looking to improve its underwater capabilities.

Last January, Pyongyang launched four missiles at a military show in the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"The striking capability of these missiles can utterly obliterate foes positioned outside the country's territory," the North Korean news agency said at the time.

In 2019, Kim Jong-Un inspected a newly built submarine, photographing himself alongside it. 

Military conflicts between the two countries are common. North Korea issued a warning about naval tensions a year ago, in the aftermath of its soldiers killing a South Korean civilian and leader Kim Jong Un's apology for the incident.

Under a defense treaty against North Korea, the US has approximately 28,500 soldiers stationed in South Korea.