Latest news with #LeeSung-jun
Business Insider
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Satellite images show the catastrophic damage to North Korea's new destroyer that's lying on its side
New satellite images of the Chongjin port in North Korea show the aftermath of a failed ship launch on Wednesday: a capsized new destroyer still partially resting on the pier. The ship's internal compartments are almost certainly flooded, complicating efforts to right it. Calling the event a "serious accident" on Thursday, North Korean state media reported that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, was watching the ceremony as the ship's stern slid down a ramp ahead of schedule, jamming the entire vessel. Satellite imagery from Airbus and Maxar Technologies show that North Korea likely planned a broadside launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, a method that splashes the ship sideways into the water. In one image, taken after the failed launch, the ship appears to be lying on its starboard side and still partially stuck on the ramp; the superstructure that is its highest point can be seen lying to the left of the hull, resting in or near the water. Much of the vessel's frame seems obscured by blue fabric. The aerial image below reveals the line of the normally level aft flight deck fully on its side, at far right. The weight of the bow section on the pier may be pinning the destroyer in an exposed position and would be exacerbated by any internal flooding likely on the stern. These internal spaces would need to be de-watered before a heavy-lift crane has a chance to lift the 5,000-ton vessel. Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Thursday that Seoul also assessed the ship to be partially submerged. Seawater can corrode and short-circuit electronic systems and rust exposed metal, necessitating expensive and time-consuming repairs once it's removed. State media wrote that the launch mechanism malfunctioned, causing the stern to slide into the water while the bow remained stuck on land. After watching the error, an irate Kim was quoted by state media as criticizing the officials involved in the launch, saying they were censured and that their mistakes would be "dealt with" at a party committee meeting next month. The North Korean leader further called the bungled launch a "serious accident and criminal act," adding that it had "brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse in a moment." South Korean officials told reporters on Thursday that it's likely the destroyer is in the same class as the Choe Hyon, a 5,000-ton vessel that it launched from a separate shipyard in April. Analysts and top North Korea watchers have assessed that the Choe Hyon is the country's largest warship to date. Satellite images from early last month showed what experts said was likely the "fitting out" process of the ship, during which internal construction is completed and equipment is installed before the warship is handed over to North Korea's navy. Then, in late April, North Korea unveiled the vessel during a ceremony at Nampo port. A ship is launched once it's watertight and all of its major components are installed. The only upside for North Korea is that during a ship launch likely no crewmembers would be aboard. The Choe Hyon has been identified as a guided missile frigate and reportedly one of two in the class that are under construction. Some analysts suggested the warship looked capable of carrying a vertical launch system, an upgrade for North Korea's naval capabilities that allows the warship to carry a larger arsenal of anti-ship, land-attack, or surface-to-air missiles. The Choe Hyon is just one example of Pyongyang's naval modernization efforts. It's been a top priority under Kim along with a broader military buildup. Much of that focus has been on the submarine force; North Korea unveiled a new missile submarine two years ago. North Korea's navy is considered "primarily a coastal force" per a 2021 US Defense Intelligence Agency report, consisting of about 60,000 personnel, 400 patrol ships, 70 diesel-electric submarines, and 260 amphibious landing craft. The country faces insufficient resources in its shipbuilding industry, a major challenge towards its naval modernization efforts. While Choe Hyon appeared to be a sophisticated vessel, experts were waiting until its launch to observe potential capabilities and technologies.
France 24
22-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
'Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: state media
At a ceremony to launch a new 5,000-ton vessel in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday "a serious accident occurred", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military said North Korea also fired "multiple unidentified cruise missiles" on Thursday, which were detected near the North's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. Blaming "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch -- which was observed by Kim -- KCNA said there was a mishap which left "some sections of the warship's bottom crushed". It said the accident managed to "destroy the balance of the warship". Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness", warning it "could not be tolerated". He said the "irresponsible errors" of officials responsible would be "dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess 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, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. The vessel is currently listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. Russian connection? The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel -- including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched -- was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." Strengthening the navy North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that "radically" boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a "radioactive tsunami", but analysts have questioned whether it actually has such a weapon. Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
‘Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: state media
It said the accident managed to 'destroy the balance of the warship'. Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a 'criminal act caused by absolute carelessness', warning it 'could not be tolerated'. He said the 'irresponsible errors' of officials responsible would be 'dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month'. South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess 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. The vessel was listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it was believed to be similarly equipped to the 5000-tonne, destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the 'most powerful weapons' and that it would 'enter into operation early next year'. Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads – although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. Russian connection? The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help – possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. 'It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel – including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched – was shared with the Russian side,' he told AFP. 'It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. 'With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side.' Strengthening the navy North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that 'radically' boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a 'radioactive tsunami', but analysts have questioned whether it actually had such a weapon. Washington – Seoul's key security ally – has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an 'irreversible' nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.
Korea Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
North Korea fires SRBMs into East Sea amid speculation over missile exports
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday morning, marking its first missile launch in about two months. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to the press that it detected the launches between approximately 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. from the area near Wonsan, a coastal city about 180 kilometers east of Pyongyang. The missiles flew up to 800 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, the military said. The launch raised speculations that the missiles' performance may have been tested ahead of possible exports. '(The missile firing) may have been a performance test or flight stability assessment ahead of potential exports,' said JCS spokesperson Lt. Col. Lee Sung-jun during a briefing at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, without mentioning the target of such an arms deal. While the exact number and specifications of the missiles were not immediately disclosed, Lee said that North Korea fired several missiles — fewer than 10 — using a variety of short-range ballistic missiles, including the super-large multiple rocket launcher and Iskander-type systems. However, Lee dismissed speculation that the launch was related to preparations for a military reconnaissance satellite. Lee added that the South Korean military has strengthened its surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches and is maintaining full readiness in close coordination with the United States and Japan. This is North Korea's first ballistic missile provocation since a short-range launch into the West Sea on March 10. It also marks the second such provocation since the second administration of US President Donald Trump took office in January. Earlier this year, North Korea conducted a series of ballistic missile tests, including firing a medium-range hypersonic missile on Jan. 6, a short-range missile on Jan. 14, and a close-range missile on March 10. In response to Thursday's launch, South Korea's National Security Office convened a security assessment meeting led by Second Deputy Director In Sung-hwan, bringing together officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other related agencies. The government said it is closely monitoring North Korea's movements and will maintain full readiness to respond to any provocations. The Foreign Ministry said South Korea, the United States and Japan held a trilateral phone consultation Thursday morning to share assessments of the launch and discuss coordination measures. 'The three countries agreed that North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and pose a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community,' the ministry said in a statement. It added that the countries will continue close coordination based on the strong South Korea-US alliance and trilateral security cooperation.
The Advertiser
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
North Korea fires short-range missiles off coast
North Korea has fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military says, possibly to test the performance and stability of various projectiles intended for export. The missiles were launched from Wonsan, North Korea's eastern coastal city, on Thursday morning and flew up to 800km before splashing down in the sea, the military said in a statement. South Korea was closely communicating with the US and Japan to share information about the launch, it said. The foreign ministry said the three countries' nuclear envoys consulted by telephone and condemned it as a violation of UN sanctions. South Korean Joint chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-jun declined to comment on the exact number of missiles detected or their characteristics, but told reporters the launch might have been to test the performance of missiles intended for export. A North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, Hong Min, said they were likely two types of short-range ballistic missiles that had been supplied to Russia which used them to strike Ukraine. "There is considerable amount of field data of these two missiles collected, and it's possible additional testing was needed to improve issues reported from the battlefield such as durability and precision," Hong said. The Japanese government also said it detected a launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, which might have flown on a irregular trajectory. The nuclear-armed North's ballistic missile program is banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, but in recent years Pyongyang has forged ahead with developing missiles of all ranges. In March, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, while blaming the South Korean and US militaries for conducting drills it calls dangerous and provocative. North Korea has exported short-range ballistic missiles, among other weapons, to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, according to US and allied intelligence agencies as well as independent researchers. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the weapons trade, although North Korean troops have been deployed to fight on the front lines in Russia's Kursk region. North Korea has fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military says, possibly to test the performance and stability of various projectiles intended for export. The missiles were launched from Wonsan, North Korea's eastern coastal city, on Thursday morning and flew up to 800km before splashing down in the sea, the military said in a statement. South Korea was closely communicating with the US and Japan to share information about the launch, it said. The foreign ministry said the three countries' nuclear envoys consulted by telephone and condemned it as a violation of UN sanctions. South Korean Joint chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-jun declined to comment on the exact number of missiles detected or their characteristics, but told reporters the launch might have been to test the performance of missiles intended for export. A North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, Hong Min, said they were likely two types of short-range ballistic missiles that had been supplied to Russia which used them to strike Ukraine. "There is considerable amount of field data of these two missiles collected, and it's possible additional testing was needed to improve issues reported from the battlefield such as durability and precision," Hong said. The Japanese government also said it detected a launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, which might have flown on a irregular trajectory. The nuclear-armed North's ballistic missile program is banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, but in recent years Pyongyang has forged ahead with developing missiles of all ranges. In March, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, while blaming the South Korean and US militaries for conducting drills it calls dangerous and provocative. North Korea has exported short-range ballistic missiles, among other weapons, to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, according to US and allied intelligence agencies as well as independent researchers. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the weapons trade, although North Korean troops have been deployed to fight on the front lines in Russia's Kursk region. North Korea has fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military says, possibly to test the performance and stability of various projectiles intended for export. The missiles were launched from Wonsan, North Korea's eastern coastal city, on Thursday morning and flew up to 800km before splashing down in the sea, the military said in a statement. South Korea was closely communicating with the US and Japan to share information about the launch, it said. The foreign ministry said the three countries' nuclear envoys consulted by telephone and condemned it as a violation of UN sanctions. South Korean Joint chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-jun declined to comment on the exact number of missiles detected or their characteristics, but told reporters the launch might have been to test the performance of missiles intended for export. A North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, Hong Min, said they were likely two types of short-range ballistic missiles that had been supplied to Russia which used them to strike Ukraine. "There is considerable amount of field data of these two missiles collected, and it's possible additional testing was needed to improve issues reported from the battlefield such as durability and precision," Hong said. The Japanese government also said it detected a launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, which might have flown on a irregular trajectory. The nuclear-armed North's ballistic missile program is banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, but in recent years Pyongyang has forged ahead with developing missiles of all ranges. In March, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, while blaming the South Korean and US militaries for conducting drills it calls dangerous and provocative. North Korea has exported short-range ballistic missiles, among other weapons, to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, according to US and allied intelligence agencies as well as independent researchers. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the weapons trade, although North Korean troops have been deployed to fight on the front lines in Russia's Kursk region. North Korea has fired what appeared to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, South Korea's military says, possibly to test the performance and stability of various projectiles intended for export. The missiles were launched from Wonsan, North Korea's eastern coastal city, on Thursday morning and flew up to 800km before splashing down in the sea, the military said in a statement. South Korea was closely communicating with the US and Japan to share information about the launch, it said. The foreign ministry said the three countries' nuclear envoys consulted by telephone and condemned it as a violation of UN sanctions. South Korean Joint chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Sung-jun declined to comment on the exact number of missiles detected or their characteristics, but told reporters the launch might have been to test the performance of missiles intended for export. A North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, Hong Min, said they were likely two types of short-range ballistic missiles that had been supplied to Russia which used them to strike Ukraine. "There is considerable amount of field data of these two missiles collected, and it's possible additional testing was needed to improve issues reported from the battlefield such as durability and precision," Hong said. The Japanese government also said it detected a launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, which might have flown on a irregular trajectory. The nuclear-armed North's ballistic missile program is banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, but in recent years Pyongyang has forged ahead with developing missiles of all ranges. In March, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles, while blaming the South Korean and US militaries for conducting drills it calls dangerous and provocative. North Korea has exported short-range ballistic missiles, among other weapons, to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine, according to US and allied intelligence agencies as well as independent researchers. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the weapons trade, although North Korean troops have been deployed to fight on the front lines in Russia's Kursk region.
