North Korea lifts sunken warship 2 weeks after failed launch: Report

ISTANBUL

North Korea has lifted a partially sunken warship two weeks after a failed launch, North Korea-focused outlet 38 North reported Tuesday.

On May 21, North Korea announced an accident during the launch of a newly built 5,000-ton destroyer. Leader Kim Jong-un, who witnessed the event, called it a “serious accident and criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Citing satellite imagery from early June, 38 North said the destroyer has since been brought upright.

The effort to right the vessel appeared to be manual. Imagery from May 29 showed workers on a dock pulling on tethers likely attached to the ship, with around 30 barrage balloons deployed along one side.

While the balloons initially seemed to be used to keep the vessel afloat, it now appears they assisted in raising the ship.

As of June 2, the bow remained on land, and satellite images suggested possible damage to the sonar section of the bow.

Following the failed launch, Kim Jong-un ordered that the destroyer be restored ahead of a ruling party meeting in June. The aim, according to KCNA, was “to make the ardent patriotic loyalty and devoted labour of the workers of the Chongjin Shipyard and the Rajin Shipyard prove fruitful as proud feats conducive to bolstering up the defence capabilities.”

KCNA also blamed the accident on “inexperienced command and operational carelessness in the course of the launch.”

Kim also said that officials from the Munitions Industry Department of the WPK Central Committee, the Mechanical Institute of the State Academy of Sciences, Kim Chaek University of Technology, the Central Ship Design Institute and the Chongjin Shipyard would be “dealt with” during the June party meeting.

He added the accident had “lowered the dignity and self-respect” of the nation, KCNA reported.