North Korea Refloats Warship That Capsized During Launch, Shocking Naval Experts

Image Credits: Screengrab from YouTube video by FP Defense News.

North Korea has again refloated a warship after it capsized during launch. According to the state-run news agency KCNA, the vessel safely entered the waters, after which it was moored at the pier.

The capsizing incident was criticised by North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, who had seen it tipping over during the failed launch attempt around two weeks prior.

He called it a criminal act which had hampered the country’s reputation and pride. He went on to add that it was due to sheer carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism on the part of those involved in the launch.

Four Officials, including Ri-Hyong-son, th Deputy Director of the ruling Worker’s Party’s Munitions Industry Department, were arrested over this incident.

Ri is a member of the party’s Central Mission Commission that commands the Korean People’s Army and has the responsibility to develop and implement North Korean military policies and strategies.

Though the punishment they might receive remains unclear, the dictatorship is well known to punish officials it deems guilty of doing wrong by sentencing them to forced labour and even death.

This incident seems to highlight Pyongyang’s urgency to develop military capabilities, especially a fleet of warships quickly, per naval analysts and experts.

Talking about the warship, it will be completely repaired before a key meeting which will be headed by Kim and attended by the top officials of the one-party state, per KCNA.

Satellite images by news sites 38 North and NK News show the 5000-tonne destroyer in an upright position at the pier, and about three hours later, it was seen floating in the harbour.

Uprighting the vessel was tedious, since it was done manually on Thursday, with satellite images showing workers on the pier working hard to pull the tethers and employing barge balloons to bring the vessel to balance.

Jihoon Yu, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defence Analyses, said that the government wants to maintain its image of a rising military power, and the failed launch may harden their resolve to push that image forward by any means.

He also added that the top leader’s harsh response to the involved officials is aimed at protecting this image and reasserting his authority.

This development also highlights that developing warships is on the high-priority list of North Korea.

Weeks before the launch, it had also revealed a similar warship in another part of the country.

Kim had called the vessel a breakthrough in modernising the state’s navy and said it would be deployed in early 2026.

Watch the video to know more-

Video Credits: FP Defense News 

References: CNN, BBC

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