The Korea Coast Guard announced Monday that it deployed an additional CN-235 aircraft to patrol the southwestern coastal waters of Korea.

The plane will be operated by the Yeosu-based aviation unit of the Korea Coast Guard’s South Regional Headquarters.

The coastguard currently operates six CN-235 aircraft. The aircraft are currently divided equally between the coastguard units covering the western and southern waters.

The Korea Coast Guard plans to deploy two CN-235 planes for each of Korea’s three seas once the hangar in Yangyang, Gangwon Province is completed.

The aircraft operated by the coastguard has a top speed of 400 kilometers per hour, and can travel for seven hours without refueling. It is also equipped with radar and a thermal detection system and is able to drop lifeboats.

Although the coastguard said that the plane was deployed according to previously drawn up plans, the South Regional Headquarters’ jurisdiction covers the submerged rock Ieodo, over which Korea has been fending off territorial claims from China.

Ieodo, or Socotra Rock, is a reef located where the exclusive economic zones of Korea and China meet, giving rise to China’s claims.

Korea, however, has disputed the claims as the rock is located closer to land held by Korea. Ieodo is located 149 kilometers southwest of Korea’s southernmost island of Marado, while the closest Chinese territory is the island of Yushandao, which is 287 kilometers away.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)