Hanjin Heavy Industries Co., a mid-sized shipbuilder here, said Wednesday that it has received a 200 billion won ($178 million) deal to build three high-speed patrol boats for the South Korean Navy.

Under the deal with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Hanjin Heavy will deliver the vessels by 2019, the company said.

The newly ordered vessels weigh 200 tons each, and will be loaded with guided rockets and remote-controlled guns, it said.

The new patrol boats are expected to be deployed to the Northern Limit Line, which has served as the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.

Six South Korean soldiers were killed and 18 others wounded in a naval clash with North Korea in 2002 in the Yellow Sea. More than 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded.

After the incident, the South Korean Navy came up with plans to improve its maritime combat system, which aims to replace old patrol boats. (Yonhap)