North Korea says it refloated capsized warship after botched launch
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
North Korea says it refloated capsized destroyer after Kim Jong Un’s anger
- North Korea says it has righted a capsized destroyer and moored it in a northeastern port, continuing repairs on the warship deemed a key asset by Kim Jong Un.
- The restoration, expected to be completed before a major party congress in late June, follows a botched launching ceremony in May that triggered Kim Jong Un's anger and led to the detention of several officials.
- South Korea's military assesses that North Korea righted the ship earlier in the week and is conducting drainage operations while examining the damage.
- The damaged warship is North Korea's second destroyer and is seen as crucial for modernising its naval forces, potentially boosting its offensive and defensive capabilities with advanced missile and radar systems.
- Experts suggest the destroyer was likely built with Russian assistance, reflecting deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia amid the war in Ukraine, raising concerns about technology transfers that could enhance North Korea's military capabilities.