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Satellite images reveal military embarrassment with the vessel that was the pride of Kim Jong-un’s naval modernization plan.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un witnessed a military embarrassment. The country’s newest 5,000-ton destroyer sank during its launch last week. This incident involved the largest warship ever built by Pyongyang. Experts indicate that the side-launch technique was crucial to the accident.
The sinking of the new destroyer witnessed by Kim Jong-un
Kim Jong-un witnessed the sinking of the country’s newest 5,000-ton destroyer. The incident occurred during the launch last week. The vessel was a source of pride in Kim’s ambitious plan. The goal was to modernize and expand his naval fleet inherited from the Soviet era. After the sinking, Kim classified the event as a criminal act. Three shipyard employees, including the chief engineer, were arrested. A senior weapons official was also detained, according to the KCNA agency.
The risky technique behind the disaster
It was the first time analysts observed North Korea using side-launch for warships. This highlighted the lack of experience. It also demonstrated Kim’s political pressure for quick results. Satellite images, captured three days before the accident, showed the 143-meter-long vessel. This was the largest ship of its class ever built by Pyongyang. It was positioned on a launch ramp. An observation structure, where Kim was likely present, was about 40 meters away and still under construction.
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Improvisation and lack of experience with the largest ship
The destroyer was assembled in Chongjin. It is a port city on North Korea’s northeast coast. The location is known for manufacturing smaller vessels, such as cargo ships and fishing boats. Analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) stated that the shipyard “undeniably” lacked experience. It lacked knowledge in building and launching large warships. The shipyard in Chongjin did not have a dry dock large enough to build a Choe Hyon-class destroyer. It also did not have an inclined ramp to slide the vessel stern-first into the water. Engineers built the largest ship on the dock, under a net cover, and had to launch it sideways.
The contrast with success in Nampo and the pressure for results
The damaged ship had size and configuration similar to the guided destroyer Choe Hyon. This was North Korea’s first and the most powerful surface ship ever built by the country. The Choe Hyon was featured in a christening ceremony last month in Nampo. The grand event included confetti, fireworks, and the presence of Kim and his daughter. A large observation platform was set up next to the Choe Hyon, already floating. This launch occurred without incidents. Engineers used a common technique: they built the Choe Hyon inside a shed, transferred it to a floating dry dock, and put it in the water by filling the dock. Engineers in Chongjin, with less advanced facilities, must have felt enormous pressure after the success in Nampo.
Consequences and doubts about the recovery of the largest ship
When done correctly, the side launch makes the ship slide and briefly dive into the water. A tugboat usually assists. When they tried to push the North Korean destroyer into the water, it lost balance. Satellite images taken two days after the accident showed the largest ship covered with a blue tarp. It was tilted on the right side. The bow was stuck to the ramp, while the stern projected over the port. The observation platform had been removed. Launching large ships sideways requires delicate balance, said Choi Il, a retired South Korean Navy captain. The heavy weapons mounted on the destroyer may have made the task even more difficult. North Korea declared that it could restore the ship’s balance and repair it in about ten days. However, Yang Uk, a military affairs expert, assesses that the damage seems more severe. “The ship looks a bit twisted,” he said. “It does not appear to have been built with the structural strength required for a warship.”
With information from InfoMoney.
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