The South Korean Navy has appointed women as commanders of a battleship and mine layer ship for the first time.

According to the Navy on Monday, Commander Hong Yu-jin was appointed the 29th commander of the Wonju patrol frigate, the first time a woman has taken such a post.

Following her appointment, Hong said she feels a great sense of responsibility, before vowing to successfully complete the mission to defend the East Sea.

Earlier, Commander Bae Seon-young was appointed the 21st commander of the Wonsan mine layer ship, the first woman to oversee operations of such a vessel.

Since the first woman was commissioned into the Navy and the Marine Corps in 2001, some two-thousand-400 women are fulfilling their duties as commissioned and noncommissioned officers.