North Korea Salvages Warship After Failed Launch, Begins Repairs in Chongjin
North Korea has raised and docked a partially capsized warship at a northeastern port following a failed launch last month, state media reported Friday.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the 5,000-tonne destroyer was stabilized and moored at a pier in the city of Chongjin after a recovery operation that began earlier in June. The warship had suffered hull damage during its botched debut launch on May 21, when a cradle malfunction caused it to tip over at the ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un.
The incident, described by Kim as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness,” led to the arrest of four officials who were accused of disgracing the nation. Satellite imagery and South Korean military assessments have since confirmed that the vessel has been righted.
KCNA said the destroyer will undergo further examination and structural repairs at the Rajin Dockyard over the next 10 days. Senior ruling party official Jo Chun Ryong stated that the ship’s complete restoration would be finished “without fail” ahead of a major Workers’ Party meeting scheduled later this month.
The warship is North Korea’s second known destroyer and is considered a key part of Kim’s push to modernize the country’s naval capabilities. South Korean officials believe it is comparable in size and function to the Choe Hyon, a similarly classed vessel unveiled earlier this year and reportedly equipped with advanced weapons systems.
The Choe Hyon has already conducted missile test-firings and is expected to enter operational service early next year. South Korean intelligence suspects that Russia may have played a role in its development, possibly in exchange for North Korean troops supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un has increasingly emphasized the expansion of North Korea’s naval power, citing threats from the United States and South Korea. He has also publicly committed to building a nuclear-powered submarine as part of his strategic vision.
This week, Kim hosted Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang. Their meeting underscored deepening military ties between the two nations, who last year signed a mutual defense pact promising immediate assistance in the event of aggression against either side.
North Korea’s push to strengthen its navy comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing concerns over its military alignment with Moscow.
