North Korea has successfully repaired and relaunched a naval destroyer that was damaged during its initial launch last month.
State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the destroyer, Kang Kon, has been fully restored and was officially relaunched during a ceremony attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
During the event, Kim announced that North Korea will construct two more warships next year as part of the country’s ongoing military modernization program.
The Kang Kon is North Korea’s second domestically built naval destroyer. It was originally launched from the Chongjin Shipyard, located on the country’s eastern coast, on May 21st. However, the launch ended in failure when the vessel partially capsized after a section of its hull collapsed.
Kim Jong Un was present at the failed May launch and condemned the incident as a “criminal act,” ordering an immediate investigation and demanding the ship be repaired ahead of the June meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea.
Four individuals have since been arrested in connection with the failed launch. They include:
Ri Hyong Son, Vice Director of the Munitions Industry Department at the Workers' Party Central Committee
Kang Jong Chol, Chief Engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard
Han Kyong Hak, Head of the Hull Construction Workshop
Kim Yong Hak, Deputy Manager for Administrative Affairs
The Kang Kon, a 5,000-ton warship, follows the Choe Hyon, the first domestically produced destroyer launched in April. Both ships are part of a broader initiative to modernize North Korea’s navy, with Kim stating the goal is to equip the naval forces with nuclear capabilities.
Photos released by North Korean media show that the radar and missile systems aboard both vessels bear similarities to Russian technology, a detail noted by analysts and seen as further evidence of the growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.