Mysterious sight appears over stricken North Korea warship
Satellite images show the objects – believed to be balloons – floating alongside the 5000-tonne ship, which has been left laying on its side and partially submerged since the incident.
While their exact purpose is unknown, experts told CNN the objects may be used to manoeuvre the ship back upright.
Another possible goal of using the objects was to protect the vessel from drones.
It comes as another official was detained over the botched launch, which left North Korean leader Kim Jong-un furious.
Jong Un slammed the mishap, which left some sections of the bottom of the newly built destroyer crushed, and called it a 'criminal act caused by absolute carelessness'.
He warned that it 'could not be tolerated' and that the 'irresponsible errors' of the officials responsible would be dealt with at a Workers' Party meeting next month.
Ri Hyong Son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Party Central Committee, was summoned and detained on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
He was 'greatly responsible for the occurrence of the serious accident', it said.
Ri is the fourth person reportedly detained in connection with the accident, following the detention of three individuals over the weekend. That includes the chief engineer at the shipyard.
Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the shipyard in the eastern port city of Chongjin where the accident took place, was summoned by law enforcement on Thursday.
South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assessed that North Korea's 'side-launch attempt' of the ship failed.
'The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military,' Lee Sung-jun, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.
Satellite images, released by Maxar Technologies, showed the ship lying sideways, with the stern in water and the bow on land.
KCNA, however, reported that an 'underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom', calling the extent of the damage 'not serious'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
16 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Domestic Violence: The Consequences of Silence
I've always been described as a very fiery woman that's got a very strong identity. And it's sort of like, "Oh, hang on. That's happened to me, that can happen to anyone.". Emma*, survivor of domestic violence who has asked to remain anonymous Shalina Lodhia, Trauma-informed Counsellor I don't think South Asian culture teaches boundaries very much. And because of that, a lot of women's tolerance to domestic violence is increased because they don't have the boundaries or the awareness. Shalina Lodhia, Trauma Counsellor and domestic violence survivor Lokesh Kashyap, Human Rights Lawyer Migrant women who are victim-survivors of family violence are not escaping just their primary perpetrator. They're also trying to tackle the violence that is perpetrated against them and their family back home. Lokesh Kashyap, Human Rights Lawyer Dr. Vanita Parekh, Sexual Health and Forensic Medicine Specialist We have to stop it before it ends up with a dead woman and maybe her dead children. Dr. Vanita Parekh, Sexual Health and Forensic Medicine Specialist If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic or family violence, support is available. Call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 , or Lifeline on 13 11 14 . In an emergency, call 000 . SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify , Apple Podcasts , YouTube and the SBS Audio app. Or tap the audio player to listen to the full episode. For more in-depth and insightful conversations, add these episodes to your playlist: LISTEN TO LISTEN TO LISTEN TO New episodes drop every week. Follow SBS Spice on Instagram @SBSSpice and never miss an update.
SBS Australia
16 hours ago
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Thursday 14 August 2025
A major government report has found that nearly half of internet users in Australia were victims of cybercrime in the past year. Business groups have rejected unions' call for a shorter working week, saying it would reduce productivity. Gilas bows out of FIBA Asia Cup 2025 after falling short versus Australia. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 07:19 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
Daily Telegraph
17 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
Map shows Australia's new place in the world after bold call on Palestine
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News. A striking map shows Australia's new place in the world after Anthony Albanese made the call to join nearly 150 countries in recognising Palestinian statehood. Australia will formally recognise Palestine when the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York next month. The move is seen as symbolic because Palestinians are living under military occupation and do not have control over their territory or settled borders. The country will join a majority of UN member states – 147 out of 193 – which already recognise Palestine, including most countries in Asia, South America and Africa. In all, those nations make up 75 per cent of the countries in the world. Historically, Western countries have held back from recognising Palestine – but reports of a new Israeli military push in Gaza and famine among Palestinians, coupled with domestic pressure on leaders like Mr Albanese, have resulted in a surge of support. It began when France announced it would recognise Palestine at the UN meeting – the first G7 country to do so. The UK, Canada, and now Australia have followed suit. But there remain some key holdouts. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, does not recognise Palestine and has vetoed past attempts by the Palestinian Authority to join the UN, arguing statehood should come about through negotiations with Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week blasted the gesture by Australia and other Western countries as 'largely meaningless'. 'It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics,' Mr Rubio said. 'The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution. 'It's not going to be decided by some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. It's going to be decided on the ground.' Anthony Albanese's announcement on Monday was welcomed by some, but it has also received criticism from both sides of the current conflict. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman Mr Albanese's announcement on Monday was welcomed by some, but it has also received criticism from both sides of the current conflict. Jewish leaders argue it lends legitimacy to terrorist group Hamas, while pro-Palestinian voices claim it does not go far enough and Australia should cut all ties with Israel. Middle East analyst Professor Amin Saikal said the recognition of Palestine 'in itself is not necessarily going to make much of a difference on the ground, because the Palestinian territories are still occupied'. 'It is a symbolic act, basically to send a very, very strong message to the Israeli leadership,' Professor Saikal told 'There are ways of enforcing the recognition of the state of Palestine with some practical measures, otherwise it will remain hollow.' Disturbing reports from Gaza and domestic pressure have led to a surge in support for Palestine from Western countries. Picture: NewsWire/Valeriu Campan The practical steps might include boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. Prof Saikal said public opinion was increasingly siding with Palestinians in the conflict. 'Now I think it is very widely recognised what Israel is engaging in is a genocide – this is not just journalists or politicians saying it, it's been confirmed by two humanitarian organisations within Israel,' he said. '(Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu has remained completely defiant of calls for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid in Gaza.' He said as the conflict dragged on, pressure might build on Donald Trump to change his stance. 'Although Trump is absolutely committed to Israel and it's very unlikely he will cut off arms supply, at the same time public opinion is very much turning against Israel,' Prof Saikal said. 'With Trump his base is very important. If this sort of criticism increases, he may finally decide that look, it's no longer in the interests of the US to continue the level of support for Israel.' Professor Amin Saikal said the gesture would remain hollow if it wasn't backed by practical measures. Picture: Supplied Across the ditch, New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said this week that the government would make a decision on Palestinian statehood next month. That places New Zealand in the diminishing group of countries that have yet to recognise Palestine, including G7 members Germany, Japan and Italy. 'This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,' Mr Albanese said on Monday. He said the decision was made after he received assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future state. The Palestinian Authority controls parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. Originally published as Map shows Australia's new place in the world after bold call on Palestine
