A North Korean warship damaged during its launch three weeks ago was set afloat on a second attempt as leader Kim Jong Un looked on, but analysts say the 5,000-ton destroyer may not yet be fully operational.
On Thursday, North Korea held a formal launch ceremony for the repaired naval destroyer named ‘Kang Kon’ at the Rajin dockyard, 45 miles (72 kilometers) up the coast from Chongjin shipyard where the warship on May 21 fell sideways into the sea, leaving it partially submerged.
“The warship was safely raised and floated in just two weeks since the accident occurred, and complete restoration was completed ahead of the Central Committee of the Party (meeting) as planned,” Kim said, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim – who had attended the failed May 21 launch attempt and angrily called it a “serious criminal act” and a “grave unacceptable accident” – had ordered the vessel be fully restored before a key ruling party meeting later this month.
But on Thursday, a beaming Kim – wearing a wide straw hat and accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae – praised the successful restoration at the launch ceremony that was celebrated with much pomp and glory, saying “truly great lessons” had been learnt in the process, according to KCNA.
The rushed ‘restoration’ and relaunch underscores Kim’s determination to project naval strength despite technical setbacks, as he pushes to expand maritime capabilities that could “be fully projected in any necessary waters without limitation,” as he had warned earlier this year.
Kim said a plan to build two additional 5,000-ton destroyers next year had been recently approved, signaling North Korea’s continued focus on strengthening its naval power.
North Korea defied skeptics about its ability to salvage the Kang Kon after the initial botched launch, but within two weeks, satellite imagery showed it had been righted and then towed for repairs at Rajin, which lies in the northeastern part of the country, near the Russian and Chinese borders.
On Friday, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, which manages inter-Korean relations, said no visible defects were seen in the destroyer’s appearance but added that continued monitoring is needed to determine whether it is functioning normally.
“Attention is being paid to whether a live-fire test of the ship’s weapons will be conducted immediately after the launch ceremony to assert that the destroyer is still in good condition,” the South Korean ministry said.
“If major equipment is submerged or damaged, it may take a long time to restore to its original condition,” it added.
Analysts said there was no clear evidence at the launch ceremony that the Kang Kon is fully operational.
“The North Korean version of the anti-ship Spike missiles that were loaded on the Choe Hyon are not visible on the Kang Kon,” said South Korean lawmaker and former defense journalist Yoo Yong-won, referring to another 5,000-ton destroyer that North Korea unveiled in April.
“It is highly likely that the warship was launched after only the exterior was hastily restored… (and) without some of its equipment loaded due to the damage from the accident,” he added.
Written by Tenzin Pema. Edited by Mat Pennington.
