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9 News
a day ago
- Politics
- 9 News
Mystery 'balloons' swarm stricken North Korean warship
New satellite images show North Korea has deployed what appear to be balloons alongside its damaged 5000-ton warship that has been laying on its side and partially submerged since a botched launch last week. While the purpose of the objects is unclear, experts told CNN they could be used to help get the ship back upright, or protect it from the prying eyes of drones. The stricken destroyer was the country's newest warship and was meant to be a triumph of North Korea's ambitious naval modernisation effort. A satellite image shows what appear to be white balloons floating above the stranded North Korean warship that was damaged after a failed launch. (Maxar Technologies via CNN Newsource) Instead, a malfunction in the launch mechanism on May 21 caused the stern to slide prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the shipway, state media KCNA reported, in a rare admission of bad news. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who witnessed the failed launch in the north-eastern city of Chongjin, called it a "criminal act" and ordered the country to swiftly repair the as-yet-unnamed ship before the late-June plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party, calling it a matter of national honour. Officials have since scrambled to undo the damage and punish those they claim are responsible, detaining four people in recent days, including the shipyard's chief engineer. READ MORE: Multiple dead after bridge collapse derails train in Russia The warship was previously covered with a tarp. (AP) Analysts say it appears balloons are being used in North Korea's effort to swiftly repair the destroyer. "It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding," said Representative Yu Yong-weon, a South Korean National Assembly lawmaker and military analyst. Retired United States Navy Captain Carl Schuster said if the objects are indeed balloons, they could have one of two purposes – either to prevent "low- to mid-level drone reconnaissance," or to reduce the stress on the part of the ship still stranded on the pier. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared the action criminal. (KCNA/Reuters/File via CNN Newsource) "That is the area that is most likely to have been damaged, suffered the most severe damage and remains under intense stress while the forward area remains out of the water," he said. Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said North Korea could be in danger of further damaging the ship if it's using balloons to keep it afloat or raise it. "It is highly likely that the ship is under quite a lot of stress anyway," and lifting from above could compound those stresses, he said. North Korea has been trying to modernise its navy. (Maxar Technologies via CNN Newsource) Normal procedure would be to get as much buoyancy as possible in the ship and then raise it from below, Childs said. According to satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies, more than a dozen white, balloon-like objects have been deployed around the destroyer since May 23. Based on the objects' shape and what appear to be tail fins, they could be smaller versions of what are known as aerostat aircraft, balloons with a slight resemblance to dirigibles, defense experts told CNN . Like blimps, dirigibles get buoyancy from a lifting gas that allows them to float in air or in water. The staggering sums countries spend on defending themselves View Gallery The images don't appear to show any flotation bladders supporting the hull or the body of the ship, Schuster said – something the US might use in such a situation. He added that North Korea's maritime industry might not be advanced enough for such techniques. North Korean state media had previously reported that the damage was less severe than initially feared, and that there were no holes in the hull, though it was scratched along the side and some seawater had entered the stern. It estimated repairs could take about 10 days – though analysts are skeptical. Schuster had previously told CNN that repair work could take up to six months, depending on how far the hull damage extends, how much water entered the warship, and how much "salt crust" might have formed on metal surfaces such as joints. The ship's precarious position also makes the salvage operation unusually complex. "Having it half in and half out of the water is basically the worst possible situation," said Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at CNA, a nonprofit specialising in defense research. He added that the operation would be simpler if the ship had fully capsized into the water, or if it had fallen over entirely on land. "But as it's half on land and half on water – if you try to pull the sunken half out, you're risking twisting and breaking the keel," Eveleth said, referring to the structural spine running along the ship's bottom. "And if you do that, the whole ship is junk." Childs said North Korea may have to cut the ship into pieces and then try to salvage what it can because righting it from its current position is an extremely complex task. "Very often the only way you clear the dock … is to dismantle at least part of the ship to make the operation easier, right what you have left and tow it away and make a decision on whether you rebuild it or scrap it," he said.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
North Korea deploys mystery balloon-like objects to stricken warship, satellite photos show
A satellite image shows what appear to be white balloons floating above the stranded North Korean warship that was damaged after a failed launch, in Chongjin, North Korea, on May 24. Maxar Technologies via CNN Newsource SEOUL, South Korea — New satellite images show North Korea has deployed what appear to be balloons alongside its damaged 5,000-ton warship that has been laying on its side and partially submerged since a botched launch last week. While the purpose of the objects is unclear, experts told CNN they could be used to help get the ship back upright, or protect it from the prying eyes of drones. The stricken destroyer was the country's newest warship and was meant to be a triumph of North Korea's ambitious naval modernization effort. Instead, a malfunction in the launch mechanism on May 21 caused the stern to slide prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the shipway, state media KCNA reported, in a rare admission of bad news. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who witnessed the failed launch in the northeastern city of Chongjin, called it a 'criminal act' and ordered the country to swiftly repair the as-yet-unnamed ship before the late-June plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party, calling it a matter of national honor. Officials have since scrambled to undo the damage and punish those they claim are responsible, detaining four people in recent days, including the shipyard's chief engineer. Analysts say it appears balloons are being used in North Korea's effort to swiftly repair the destroyer. 'It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding,' said Rep. Yu Yong-weon, a South Korean National Assembly lawmaker and military analyst. Retired United States Navy Cpt. Carl Schuster said if the objects are indeed balloons, they could have one of two purposes – either to prevent 'low- to mid-level drone reconnaissance,' or to reduce the stress on the part of the ship still stranded on the pier. 'That is the area that is most likely to have been damaged, suffered the most severe damage and remains under intense stress while the forward area remains out of the water,' he said. Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said North Korea could be in danger of further damaging the ship if it's using balloons to keep it afloat or raise it. 'It is highly likely that the ship is under quite a lot of stress anyway,' and lifting from above could compound those stresses, he said. Normal procedure would be to get as much buoyancy as possible in the ship and then raise it from below, Childs said. According to satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies, more than a dozen white, balloon-like objects have been deployed around the destroyer since May 23. Based on the objects' shape and what appear to be tail fins, they could be smaller versions of what are known as aerostat aircraft, balloons with a slight resemblance to dirigibles, defense experts told CNN. Like blimps, dirigibles get buoyancy from a lifting gas that allows them to float in air or in water. The images don't appear to show any flotation bladders supporting the hull or the body of the ship, Schuster said – something the US might use in such a situation. He added that North Korea's maritime industry might not be advanced enough for such techniques. North Korean state media had previously reported that the damage was less severe than initially feared, and that there were no holes in the hull, though it was scratched along the side and some seawater had entered the stern. It estimated repairs could take about 10 days – though analysts are skeptical. Schuster had previously told CNN that repair work could take up to six months, depending on how far the hull damage extends, how much water entered the warship, and how much 'salt crust' might have formed on metal surfaces such as joints. The ship's precarious position also makes the salvage operation unusually complex. 'Having it half in and half out of the water is basically the worst possible situation,' said Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at CNA, a nonprofit specializing in defense research. He added that the operation would be simpler if the ship had fully capsized into the water, or if it had fallen over entirely on land. 'But as it's half on land and half on water – if you try to pull the sunken half out, you're risking twisting and breaking the keel,' Eveleth said, referring to the structural spine running along the ship's bottom. 'And if you do that, the whole ship is junk.' Childs said North Korea may have to cut the ship into pieces and then try to salvage what it can because righting it from its current position is an extremely complex task. 'Very often the only way you clear the dock … is to dismantle at least part of the ship to make the operation easier, right what you have left and tow it away and make a decision on whether you rebuild it or scrap it,' he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Mysterious white balloons seen near North Korea's 5,000 ton sunken warship, what are they?
North Korean destroyer after it suffered a failed launch (Image credit: AP) North Korea might be using balloon-like structures around its most advanced and largest naval vessel, after last week's failed launch left 5,000-ton warship partially submerged. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies reveal over a dozen white, balloon-like objects have been deployed around the wreckage since 23 May. Experts are divided over the purpose of the balloons. Some believe they're being used to prevent further flooding or protect the vessel from surveillance. 'It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding,' said South Korean lawmaker and military analyst Representative Yu Yong-weon. Retired US Navy Captain Carl Schuster suggested the balloons could serve dual purposes, either shielding the vessel from drone reconnaissance or relieving pressure on the hull where the destroyer is lodged awkwardly on the slipway. 'That is the area that is most likely to have been damaged, suffered the most severe damage and remains under intense stress while the forward area remains out of the water,' he said. Naval expert Nick Childs from the International Institute for Strategic Studies warned that using balloons to lift the ship could risk making the situation worse. 'It is highly likely that the ship is under quite a lot of stress anyway,' Childs said, adding that normal approach would be to create buoyancy below and then lift gradually. Despite North Korean media downplaying the extent of the damage, analysts remain sceptical. KCNA previously claimed the hull remained intact and estimated repairs would take just 10 days. But Schuster noted that the effort could stretch to six months depending on internal damage, seawater ingress, and corrosion. The ship's position—partly on land and partly submerged, further complicates the salvage operation. 'Having it half in and half out of the water is basically the worst possible situation,' said Decker Eveleth, a defence researcher with CNA. 'If you try to pull the sunken half out, you're risking twisting and breaking the keel. And if you do that, the whole ship is junk.' Experts say North Korea may ultimately need to dismantle parts of the destroyer to remove it safely. 'Very often the only way you clear the dock … is to dismantle at least part of the ship to make the operation easier, right what you have left and tow it away and make a decision on whether you rebuild it or scrap it.' The 5,000-ton destroyer was meant to be a symbol of North Korea's ambitious naval modernisation. However, a malfunction during its launch at a shipyard in the northeastern city of Chongjin caused the stern to slide prematurely into the water, damaging the hull and leaving the bow stranded on land. In a rare admission of failure, state media KCNA reported the mishap, quoting leader Kim Jong Un who called it a 'criminal act' and demanded urgent repairs before a late-June party meeting, describing the mission as a matter of national honour, as per CNN. Since the incident, four individuals including the shipyard's chief engineer have reportedly been detained.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
North Korea using balloons to stop damaged warship from sinking deeper: satellite images
North Korea has deployed dozens of huge white balloons alongside its wrecked 5,000-ton-class warship to stop it from sinking further after a botched launch last week, new satellite images show. The images captured by Maxar Technologies show the balloons surrounding the partially submerged vessel tipped on its side. It's also draped in blue covers to hide what has turned out to be an embarrassing failure for the hermit kingdom's leader, Kim Jong Un. While the purpose of the apparent balloons is unclear, experts theorize that they are being used to swiftly repair the destroyer, according to CNN. Advertisement 4 Dozens of what appears to be white balloons surround the destroyed warship. DigitalGlobe/Getty Images Based on the object's shape and what look like tail fins, the white blobs look to be aerostat aircraft, which like blimps, get buoyancy from a lifting gas that allows them to float in air or in water. 'It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding,' Rep. Yu Yong-weon, a South Korean National Assembly lawmaker and military analyst, told the outlet. Advertisement Other experts explained that lifting the enormous warship out of the water could cause additional damage— the forward part of the vessel is still stuck on the pier as the rest of its body pulls it downward. Using the balloons could keep the vessel in limbo as they make repairs. 4 The balloons are likely being used to swiftly repair the destroyer, according to experts. DigitalGlobe/Getty Images 4 A satellite image shows the new North Korean warship at the harbour before launch on May 18. via REUTERS Advertisement But even the balloons might not be enough to save the warship — normal procedure would call for raising the ship from below. 'It is highly likely that the ship is under quite a lot of stress anyway,' said Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. It is not clear how much damage the ship suffered when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony on May 23. 4 Kim Jong Un called the botched launch 'criminal act' and ordered the arrest of four individuals. KCNA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Advertisement Kim, who watched the disaster unfold, called the botched launch a 'criminal act' and ordered officials to rapidly repair the ship before the end of June. Four people have been arrested, including the shipyard's chief engineer. The vessel is Pyongyang's second known destroyer. The failed launch proved an embarrassment to Kim, who is eager to build greater naval forces to deal with what he calls US-led military threats.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Pahalgam, Pakistan generals, pitches—what readers wrote to us in May
I did think of writing about ThePrint's coverage of Operation Sindoor in this piece but decided against it since the April column had dealt with our reporting on the Pahalgam terror attack. Operation Sindoor, launched by India against terrorist targets in Pakistan on 7 May, has been the story of the month. Instead, this column will feature readers' comments that I have received over the past few months. However, before we get down to the compliments and the complaints—and even a few curses—let me just say that ThePrint spent days and several nights covering all angles of Operation Sindoor, the subsequent military battle between India and Pakistan, the 10 May ceasefire, and the domestic and international impact of these actions. Up to 14 ThePrint journalists were sent to Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab to report from the ground during the four-day conflict. In-depth analysis of India's defence capabilities, its strategic gains, and the long-term consequences of its strikes were also covered extensively. The Opinion section of the website had military and diplomatic experts explain what many consider a defining moment in India's strategy against terror, as articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation, in which he outlined a 'new normal' policy. There's no space to mention all the good work done at ThePrint in May. But I would like to cite one story that best illustrates the teamwork which contributed to ThePrint's 'war' effort in significant ways. The breaking story came from ThePrint's science writer, Soumya Pillai. Her report of 9 May—'Orders for Pahalgam satellite images from US firm peaked two months before attack'—was perhaps the only story in the news media to provide proof of the planning behind the Pahalgam attack, and to link it to Pakistan. To quote from the story: 'Two months before terrorists killed 26 people in Kashmir, a top US-based space tech company saw an unprecedented spike in orders for high-resolution satellite images of Pahalgam and its surrounding areas… These high-resolution images are often used by defence agencies for monitoring troop movements, weapon installations, and infrastructure development…' Pillai wrote that the company, Maxar Technologies, first received orders for images of Pahalgam in June 2024 '…just months after Maxar acquired a new partner: a Pakistan-based geo-spatial company linked to federal crimes in the US.' That's pretty plausible evidence, right? Congratulations, Soumya Pillai. Also, while we are in a self-congratulatory mood, three journalists from ThePrint have won the Justice Media Award 2024-25. Apoorva Mandhani, Bismee Taskin, and Khadija Khan have been recognised 'for their contributions towards enhancing public understanding of justice and the legal system.' Read all about it here. Also Read: ThePrint's in-depth ground reports are now multimedia-interactive. 2025 vision board In the words of readers Right, now it's to the readers' mail. Readers had many issues on their minds, and India's conflict with Pakistan was just one of them. Articles and comments on the latter were submitted: 'Will Pakistan attack India again?' asked one reader on 15 May, adding that there was a complete blackout in his city — '…as per TV news there is a danger that Pakistan may attack India again?' he wrote. Then there was an article titled 'IMF's $2.3 billion loan to Pakistan: A history of bailouts casting shadows on the Fund's credibility in combating the financing of terrorism'. Another piece was 'How Pakistan wins the war it never fights'. One reader had a bright idea: why not collaborate on a documentary about Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been very vocal in his support for the Modi government's actions. In 'Proposal to explore Shri Shashi Tharoor as a potential PM candidate', the reader said Tharoor is '…a unique and compelling leader on the national stage'. A more sombre submission was an article titled 'How the Pahalgam attack reflects India's descent into communal darkness'—and this piece, 'Faith didn't kill them. Fanaticism did' from a Class 11 student, which in his words '…emphasises the need for unity while rejecting communal narratives.' We had other submissions too on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, but unfortunately, we've been unable to publish them given the volume of expert views we did carry on these topics. But thank you for your interest, readers— we do appreciate it. I also received a few complaints. Some readers objected to individual opinion pieces. In response to journalist and TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose's piece 'After Operation Sindoor, let's choose truth over TV theatre', a reader wrote: (she is) 'quite one-sided and full of anti BJP rhetoric without much rational thought… Is criticism the default option of Ms Ghose come what may?' Objections to tone, length, ads More criticism came our way on articles written about other subjects. I was in the firing line for recent Tele-Scope columns. One reader began gently enough: 'There are three people in total at ThePrint whom I have very high regard for: U, Mr Gupta, and Snehesh… (But) I was extremely disappointed by your article today… you sounded less like a serious journalist, more like the alleged rabid Islamist Rana Ayyub or the congress doormat (to quote Mr Amit Malviya) Rajdeep Sardesai… Unfortunate!!!' What had upset him so was this article. A ground report on the sex lives of college students got a lot of reader interest—and some criticism. A worried reader thought the piece was 'avoidable' as '…the publication of such report perhaps will serve as an encouragement to other young readers… and more members of other sex will be hence victimized.' My reply was that the 'secret' lives ought to brought out into the open so that the public becomes aware of the need to create a healthy environment for normal, sexual behaviour. A really angry mail came from students of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences regarding the article 'World's largest indigenous school in Odisha is a jail; we're all monkeys, says a tribal student'. They expressed 'immense pain' and a 'deep sense of betrayal'—'Have you ever visited our campus? Have you spoken to us, the children of KISS, before labelling our home as a 'jail'?' they wrote. 'Your article reeks of prejudice, ignorance, and insensitivity.' ThePrint replied with a point-by-point rebuttal of the allegations. For example, nowhere in the article did ThePrint claim it had entered the KISS premises—we had no permission to do so. We did speak to students, parents, and alumni, and the story cites a report by the National Human Rights Commission in 2025: 'The KIIT University and KISS have both been unable to comply with the law and failed to provide safety and security to their students.' Quite often, I receive backhanded compliments that are actually complaints. Like this one: 'I'm a long-time reader of your journal, and I find its reporting better and truer than the propaganda churned out by Godi media…' Great. But then: 'On the other hand, your journal does suffer from certain handicaps… Some of the articles are too long… they fail to hold my interest. For instance, the article by Manasi Phadake (sic), 'How big stars and bloated blockbusters are bleeding Bollywood dry', is way too long…' Finally, the reader has a word of advice: 'What you need is a good Editor who will ruthlessly trim the fat…' Personally, I found Phadke's article informative and the data it presented, persuasive. ThePrint has a very competent editing team who do 'ruthlessly trim the fat' but I have passed this on to them, nevertheless. Readers frequently complain about advertisements interrupting their reading of articles: 'I admire print journalism… it would be ideal if the articles could be printed without any ads interfering,' wrote in a reader. I wish we could all enjoy an ad-free experience but financial imperatives dictate otherwise. So, apologies, but please bear with us. Also Read: How ThePrint's small newsroom brought you Pahalgam from every angle, minus the noise Conversations—and compliments I also receive mail that is neither complimentary nor critical. Readers simply want to share their views. One reader, for example, wrote about 'When truth breaks its bones in the fall from power'—'The battle between truth and power is not new, but its stakes have never been higher…'' And this, on taxes: 'Taxed for earning. Taxed for spending. Taxed for saving'. 'You work 12 hours a day / Income Tax cuts your salary. You go shopping /GST slaps your bill. You save and invest /Capital gains eats your reward… You die. And they're considering inheritance tax next.' A very long mail arrived in the mailbox on the ruling party, titled: 'Hallo — all the Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India: please DO NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE the RSS of BJP…' Some readers ask for our opinion — or rather that of Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta: 'One thing which is not talked about a lot is that Gen. Munir is the first general of Pakistan Army who was commissioned (in 1986) when Zia was firmly in control of the army. Gen. Zia was in his conservative avatar, transforming Pakistani society… What are your thoughts on this? Would this mean the coming crop of generals from Pakistan would be more radical and conservative Islamists than their predecessors?' Finally, let me share a few compliments. The first — 'Thank you all for your reporting on the Pehalgam (sic) attack… Unlike some other channels, you guys have not tried to portray it Hindu vs Muslim. I felt that all your reports were subtly trying to tell the readers that it's a terrorist act effected by Pakistan and Indian Muslims are together in this with the rest of India.' And there's this one: 'Dear The Print (sic) team and Mr Shekhar Gupta, Thank you for doing what you are doing and please continue. I have been a big fan… of The Print. I have been diligently consuming important information pieces, and have been referring to The Print articles/videos anytime I needed a reliable source of information. Thank you for your non-hyphenated journalism.' Thank you, readers, for your continuing faith in ThePrint. Shailaja Bajpai is ThePrint's Readers' Editor. Please write in with your views and complaints to (Edited by Asavari Singh)
