Korea's Coast Guard stationed its largest patrol vessel off Jeju Island to better guard its territorial waters and deal with illegal fishing activities, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security said Wednesday.

The 5,000-ton cutter named after Lee Cheong-ho -- a Coast Guard officer who was killed on duty in 2011 while dealing with illegal Chinese fishing boats -- will operate south of the resort island and even support operations to Ieodo Ocean Research Station, an unmanned marine science base. Korea operates the base built on a submerged rock formation, that is also claimed by China. Ieodo lies some 160 kilometers from Jeju. 

The ministry said the cutter will sail in areas where there are overlapping exclusive economic zones, and is well equipped to handle all kinds of emergency situations, like illegal fishing, and search and rescue.

It said the cutter can remain stationed for upwards of 45 days, sail 17,000 km and has a top speed of 26 knots, which is equal to around 48 kph on land.

The cutter has a hangar facility for a helicopter, can deploy four high-speed boats and is armed with a 76 millimeter main gun, as well as 40mm and 20mm secondary guns.

Seoul spent 78.5 billion won ($67.9 million) on the vessel, which took around 39 months to build, the ministry said.

In 2013, Korea expanded its so-called air defense identification zone, called KADIZ, to cover Ieodo. This move followed a decision by Beijing to expand its own air identification zone eastward, in the South Sea that caused friction between the two neighboring countries.

The cutter's stationing in the region also underscores Seoul's resolve to safeguard its national interest, as both China and Japan have started deploying large Coast Guard vessels in these waters. (Yonhap)