North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, announced that they successfully lifted a capsized 5,000-ton naval destroyer on Saturday. The incident, which occurred in May due to a failed launch, has been under investigation, with four officials arrested. The ship is now moored at a pier in the northeastern port of Chongjin, and experts will examine its hull. While details about the actual cause of the damage remain unclear, KCNA stated that an underwater and internal inspection revealed that the damage was not serious.
This incident sheds some light on North Korea’s naval arsenal, as the damaged ship is the second known destroyer, following the Choe Hyon, which was unveiled last month. The Choe Hyon is said to be capable of carrying different weapons, including nuclear missiles. South Korean military intelligence suggested that the Choe Hyon may have been developed with Russian assistance, in exchange for North Korean troops assisting Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine. These developments further highlight the ongoing strategic cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/north-korea-raises-capsized-warship-after-failed-launch/a-72810116?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
