North Korea has begun full warship restoration efforts following a dramatic and unexpected failure during the ship’s launch last month at the port of Chongjin. Officials reported that they managed to stabilize the 5,000-ton destroyer after it tipped over and became partially submerged during the ceremony held in late May. The incident shocked many observers, especially since it occurred in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who personally witnessed the warship’s capsizing as it happened.
Following the event, Kim expressed strong condemnation, describing the failure as unacceptable and demanding immediate action to fix the problem. Since then, teams have worked intensively to recover the warship and prepare it for full repairs, underlining the leadership’s determination to resolve the setback quickly and restore the vessel to operational condition.
In response, engineers worked through early June to bring the ship back to an upright position. They moored the destroyer at a pier by late Thursday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. KCNA confirmed that the warship restoration will now enter its next phase. A team of experts will examine the hull before repairs move to a drydock facility in Rajin.
North Korean authorities estimate that these final restoration tasks will take around seven to ten days. However, timelines may shift depending on structural evaluations. The destroyer, which had partially capsized, symbolized a major failure for the regime’s naval ambitions. After the tipping, Kim Jong-un described the incident as an intolerable criminal act.
Following the accident, the government detained several officials, including a senior figure in the party’s munitions industry department. This action underscores the seriousness with which the leadership views the failure. Meanwhile, South Korean military sources confirmed that the destroyer returned to an upright position earlier this week. They also reported that North Korea planned to begin draining water from the ship.
The restoration process represents a critical step before an important party meeting scheduled for late June. Completing the warship’s repair remains a top priority for the North Korean leadership. Overall, the warship restoration highlights both the challenges and the urgency North Korea faces in advancing its naval capabilities amid tight deadlines and high expectations.
