Latest news with #38North
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Partially Submerged North Korean Frigate Appears Upright Again In Satellite Image
North Korea looks to be making progress in recovering the second in its Choi Hyun class of frigates, which rolled over and was partially submerged after an incident at its launch ceremony last month. Recent imagery of the warship indicates that it has now returned to an upright position, although the target of restoring the frigate before the end of this month remains highly dubious. 38 North, a website devoted to the analysis of North Korea, today published satellite imagery from Airbus Defense and Space, of the scene at Chongjin Shipyard on June 2, as seen in the social media post below. This appears to show the warship upright for the first time since the failed launch on May 21. Though there is light cloud cover overhead, the flight deck — specifically the markings for the helipad — looks to be visible at the stern, and the ship's overall profile has changed. This is quite incredible speed. The image is partially obscured by cloud, but the capsized North Korean warship is now upright again. What makes it even more impressive is they apparently did it all manually. : Airbus Space and Defence/38 North, June — Martyn Williams (@ 2025-06-03T18:28:44.771Z The vessel, which has an estimated displacement of 5,000 tons, is the second of its class, following the Choi Hyon, which was officially unveiled in April. You can read all about the heavily armed class of frigates in our previous detailed analysis and follow-up report. 38 North notes that workers can be seen pulling ropes from the quay, in an attempt to manually right the warship, in a separate satellite image from Airbus Defense and Space taken on May 29. At least 30 buoys and/or airbags can be seen alongside the vessel, presumably to help stabilize it. Some reports have suggested these were barrage balloons, although that doesn't appear to make any sense in this case. At this stage, it's not possible to determine the level of damage that the frigate sustained during its abortive launch. 38 North suggests that the launch mechanism may have become stuck in the ship's bow, pinning it onto the land while the stern slipped into the water, after which the boat overturned. In the May 29 imagery, there appears to be damage around the bow section. If the ship has been successfully righted, what the next steps might be in the repair process are unclear. There is not a dry dock that the vessel could be moved into readily at Chongjin if that level of work is required. At the same time, taking it to another yard could be a challenge, especially if there is serious damage to the hull. Seeking outside help, including from Russia or China, could be an option. A floating dry dock could be especially useful in this instance. North Korea's latest naval destroyer has been significantly damaged prior to its launch. In a rare acknowledgment, North Korea's state news agency KCNA reported yesterday an incident occurred with a new destroyer in Chongjin, which was close to being launched. — Open Source Centre (@osc_london) May 22, 2025 I made a .gif showing the DPRK frigate in position to launch and then, er, "toes up" in the water. — Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) May 22, 2025 North Korean state media has previously claimed that there is no serious damage to the warship, which is at best highly questionable if not impossible. 'Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom, the hull starboard was scratched, and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel,' per a report from KCNA on May 23. 'The extent of damage to the warship is not serious, and the result of the flooding process immediately after the accident is only information necessary to take practical rehabilitation measures. The above-said data have no connection with the cause of the accident and the identification of its responsibility.' At the very least, the North Korean shipyard appears to have made significant progress on the initial recovery of the ship, more or less in line with official estimates. 'Experts estimated that it will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway, and 10-odd days to restore the warship's side,' KCNA also said in its May 23 report. On that same day, TWZ obtained satellite imagery showing the stricken vessel still covered with blue tarps, but now with two steel cables connecting it to a shipyard dock, as the recovery effort began to take shape. Bearing in mind the embarrassing and highly public nature of the incident, and the fact that the launch ceremony was attended by dictator Kim Jong Un, there is very much an imperative to get the warship repaired, at least outwardly, as soon as possible. Kim called the incident 'a criminal act' and promised that the officials found responsible would be 'dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee' this month. This is a high-level meeting of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. At least three shipyard officials have been detained as part of a subsequent investigation. The head of the Chongjin Shipyard, Hong Kil Ho, was initially summoned by state law enforcement officials, but does not appear to have been detained. A senior North Korean Communist Party official, Ri Hyong Son, was also summoned. Looks like Ri Hyong Son, a senior party official, is also taking the fall. — Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) May 25, 2025 Earlier this month, Kim also called for the frigate to be restored before this same meeting, something that was met with widespread skepticism outside of North Korea. While returning the frigate to an upright position would be an achievement, there will very likely be a lot more less obvious but critical work ahead. How it sits now upright, with one part in the water and the other on shore, is also a precarious situation in itself. The degree to which the incident and its aftermath have been played out in view of the public is certainly noteworthy. Unusually, Pyongyang announced details of the incident soon after it happened, including comments from Kim, in an apparent effort to control the narrative. Coupled with the availability of satellite imagery, this now means that there will be an even greater focus on the recovery efforts, especially given Kim's fantastical timeline for its restoration. Contact the author: thomas@
Kyodo News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
North Korea no longer bans military use of space for defense purposes
KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2025 - 21:20 | World, All North Korea lifted a ban on the military use of space for national defense purposes by amending its space development law in 2022, analysis by 38 North, a U.S.-based organization monitoring the nuclear-armed nation revealed Sunday. Language opposing the militarization of space and limiting its use to peaceful purposes was removed, while the revised law includes a warning that countermeasures will be taken against any country attempting unfriendly acts, the analysis said. As the United States, Russia and China have advanced the military use of space, North Korea claims to have put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time in 2023, underscoring its stance of actively promoting the domain. The organization obtained a smartphone sold in 2024 in North Korea. The device contained an app referencing the law, making the details of the legal reforms clear and showing that the number of articles in the law has increased from 23 to 48. A researcher at 38 North said the amendment suggests North Korea's space strategy is maturing. The results of the analysis are expected to be posted on the organization's website soon. The space development law was enacted in 2013. North Korean state-run media reported that it has been revised but has not provided specifics.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
N. Korea no longer bans military use of space for defense purposes
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- North Korea lifted a ban on the military use of space for national defense purposes by amending its space development law in 2022, analysis by 38 North, a U.S.-based organization monitoring the nuclear-armed nation revealed Sunday. Language opposing the militarization of space and limiting its use to peaceful purposes was removed, while the revised law includes a warning that countermeasures will be taken against any country attempting unfriendly acts, the analysis said. As the United States, Russia and China have advanced the military use of space, North Korea claims to have put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time in 2023, underscoring its stance of actively promoting the domain. The organization obtained a smartphone sold in 2024 in North Korea. The device contained an app referencing the law, making the details of the legal reforms clear and showing that the number of articles in the law has increased from 23 to 48. A researcher at 38 North said the amendment suggests North Korea's space strategy is maturing. The results of the analysis are expected to be posted on the organization's website soon. The space development law was enacted in 2013. North Korean state-run media reported that it has been revised but has not provided specifics.
Kyodo News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
North Korea no longer bans military use of space for defense purposes
KYODO NEWS - 10 minutes ago - 21:20 | World, All North Korea lifted a ban on the military use of space for national defense purposes by amending its space development law in 2022, analysis by 38 North, a U.S.-based organization monitoring the nuclear-armed nation revealed Sunday. Language opposing the militarization of space and limiting its use to peaceful purposes was removed, while the revised law includes a warning that countermeasures will be taken against any country attempting unfriendly acts, the analysis said. As the United States, Russia and China have advanced the military use of space, North Korea claims to have put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time in 2023, underscoring its stance of actively promoting the domain. The organization obtained a smartphone sold in 2024 in North Korea. The device contained an app referencing the law, making the details of the legal reforms clear and showing that the number of articles in the law has increased from 23 to 48. A researcher at 38 North said the amendment suggests North Korea's space strategy is maturing. The results of the analysis are expected to be posted on the organization's website soon. The space development law was enacted in 2013. North Korean state-run media reported that it has been revised but has not provided specifics.
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
The risky ‘side launch' that doomed Kim Jong Un's new warship
SEOUL—A week ago, Kim Jong Un traveled to North Korea's 'City of Iron," home to a major industrial shipyard where a hulking warship awaited him. A VIP podium had been erected alongside the port for the vessel's launch. Officials waited in anticipation. But the moment of celebration turned into calamity. The 5,000-ton destroyer lost its balance as it lurched into the water, toppling over and embarrassing Kim, who seeks to modernize his Soviet-era naval fleet. Four North Korean officials have been detained over the mishap, according to state media, which called it an 'unpardonable crime." What has become clearer in the aftermath is how an unconventional choice of launch method, Kim's rushed timetable and a top-heavy warship overladen with weapons systems was a recipe for disaster, according to satellite-imagery analysis, naval experts and North Korea's official statements. 'I haven't seen a failure like this one," said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine colonel now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The 470-feet-long warship—Kim's second Choe Hyon-class destroyer—had been built at a port in the northeastern city of Chongjin, a major cargo hub near the Russian border. North Korea's largest steel mill sits nearby. Vessels carrying oil and wheat dot the surrounding waterways. Days before the May 21 launch, satellite imagery showed the vessel alongside the dock, resting on a sloped ramp designed to slide it side first into the water. This setup meant North Korea had chosen to attempt a risky 'side launch," as opposed to other, more common methods. The country hadn't before been observed attempting the method with other military vessels, according to 38 North, a website that analyzes North Korea. The movement requires precise calculations predicting the ship's center of gravity and the launch angle. With Kim looking on, the warship didn't descend the rails evenly. Instead, only its stern slid into the water, causing the vessel to topple over into the water with its bow remaining on the dockside, according to experts who viewed the satellite images. North Korea said the accident occurred because of 'inexperienced command and operational carelessness." Naval experts said a miscalculation of how to keep the ship balanced appears likely. Blue tarps now cover the warship, concealing from the outside world the extent of the damage. The bottom of the warship wasn't punctured in the accident, North Korea's state media reported. Pumping out seawater from the submerged part of the vessel takes several days, North Korean state media said. Getting the ship back upright should be completed by next week. Even when a side launch is successful, the ship violently bobs back and forth before coming to a standstill. This was the case for the 2013 side launch of the USS Milwaukee, a littoral combat ship, in a video from its manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The Milwaukee is also significantly smaller than the capsized North Korean vessel, at about 3,400 tons and 388-feet long. The U.S. now generally avoids side launches for large warships, since other options are safer and more stable. South Korea's military said following the North Korean accident that it avoids the method. Side launches are commonly used for cargo vessels or tankers, as they have flatter hulls and are therefore easier to balance after being dropped into the water, naval experts said. The method is risky for warships, since their hulls are narrow to maximize speed and they have bulky weapons systems mounted atop them. To North Korea, a side launch is also a less costly option and requires less advanced equipment than the common alternative, a so-called floating dock launch, in which a dock is filled with water. This approach is considered safer and more controlled than a side launch, and is how the U.S., South Korea and other military powers typically ease their big warships into water, naval experts said. It is also the method used by the Kim regime just weeks earlier at a different port, in the west coast city of Nampo, for the launching of the first Choe Hyon-class warship. Nampo's shipyard is larger and more modern. Kim was on hand for that launch, too. Standing aboard a vessel draped in North Korean flags, he smiled with his daughter as confetti fell from the sky. The North Korean leader's demands for speed also likely played a role in the accident, said Neil Watts, a former South African navy captain. 'It's a combination of lack of technical expertise and the pressure to get the ship launched in a short period of time," said Watts, a former member of the now-disbanded United Nations panel monitoring North Korean sanctions compliance. The first Choe Hyon-class warship had been built in roughly 400 days, North Korean state media said, with plans to deploy it by early next year. The second began construction about a year ago, according to satellite-imagery analysis of Chongjin port. That would be a fast turnaround for a country with North Korea's industrial limitations and inexperience, naval experts said. It typically takes Japan and South Korea about three years to build a frigate or destroyer. Europe takes three to six years and the U.S. often longer. Moreover, North Korea appeared to have affixed roughly 70 weapons systems atop the destroyer before launch, plus other arms, whereas the U.S., South Korea and others typically mount far fewer and take years to fully equip a military vessel, said Yoon Suk-joon, a retired South Korean navy captain and now senior fellow at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs. 'North Korea got too ambitious," he said. Write to Dasl Yoon at
