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The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Kim Jong-un finally ‘launches a ship WITHOUT sinking it': Despot tours ‘repaired destroyer' a month on from humiliation
TYRANT Kim Jong-un has reportedly relaunched his 5,000-tonne colossal warship - after it spectacularly capsized during its first launch last month. The North Korean dictator witnessed his new destroyer's successful maiden voyage - after a humiliating blunder last month which saw the vessel end up on its side. 9 9 9 Satellite pictures previously revealed the huge warship, named Kang Kon, floundering sideways - with its stern partially sunk and its bow lying on the harbour jetty. Furious Kim deemed to find and punish those found responsible for the embarrassing fail. He slammed the "criminal act" caused by "absolute carelessness" in a rare admission of failure - and arrested four officials. But state media have now claimed that the intimidating warship has finally been restored. Experts have questioned whether the boat's repairs are actually sufficient, given the reported speedy turnaround. Kim and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, are understood to have witnessed the triumphant launch at Rajin Port in the north of the country, according to KCNA. Images showed the smiling despot wearing a thin summer hat as he walked cheerfully in front of clapping navy officers. It comes after the half-sunk was seen being hauled upright using giant balloons after it capsized. North Korea's state broadcaster also reported that sections of the hull had been crushed. The highly-secretive authorities appeared to have tried to hide the disaster by placing blue tarpaulin across the wreck. North Korea's half-sunk warship hauled UPRIGHT with giant balloons as cause of disaster that humiliated Kim is revealed Pictures from May 29 showed workers standing on the quay pulling ropes attached to the boat. And at least 30 balloons appeared to have been connected along one side - presumably to haul it upright. On launch day, crews had attempted to slide the ship sideways into the water. A malfunction meant that the stern entered while the bow remained on the launch gear. It is likely that the launch mechanism snagged the bow, preventing it from plopping into the sea, reports 38north. This theory is supported by satellite imagery from May 29, which seems to show damage to the bow. Seething Kim demanded that the repairs be completed by the end of June - and it now appears that engineers have managed to do this in time. 9 9 9 The dictator was fuming in the wake of the embarrassment, and said it brought shame on the country. Four people have been arrested so far, including chief engineer Kang Jong Chol, hull workshop head Han Kyong Hak, and deputy manager Kim Yong Hak. It's unclear what punishment they will face, though an expert told The Sun their fates could be fatal. Michael Madden, founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, said: "Some people will lose their party memberships and be sent to jail for short sentences." But, more alarmingly, he claimed "some people are going to be shot to death behind this". 9 9 9 The launch failure marked a huge setback for Kim, who has been modernizing his navy to keep up with the West. The huge Kang Kon naval destroyer is believed to be the same class as the Choe Hyon - North Korea's largest warship yet. North Korea's state media - which also serves as Kim's leading propaganda machine - reported that the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons". Now it is seemingly upright and operational, the destroyer will surpass the current largest vessel in North Korea, a 1,360-tonne frigate.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
North Korea claims warship launch successful on second try
North Korea says it has successfully relaunched its new 5,000-ton naval destroyer, less than a month after it capsized during the first attempted launch, state media country's leader, Kim Jong Un, had reacted furiously to the warship's failed launch in May, and demanded it be quickly repaired. At least four officials - three shipyard officials and one senior official - have since been arrested over the media says the ship has now been fully restored. But given how quickly it has been relaunched, experts are questioning whether the repairs are really complete. Kim and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, oversaw Tuesday's launch at Rajin Port in the country's north, according to KCNA, which published photos of them at the warship is one of two brand new 5,000-ton naval destroyers North Korea has built over the past year and launched since April. They are now the biggest ships Pyongyang has in its fleet and are capable, in theory, of launching nuclear weapons. Kim has made it a priority to develop a nuclear-armed navy, and says he plans to build two more of these destroyers in the coming year. Satellite photos over the past few weeks showed the capsized ship in the harbour, before it was moved to a repair site, and then being refloated in the water, before it was moored at the pier. According to KCNA, Kim spoke at Friday's event, saying that the initial failed launch had not set back the North's military modernisation programme."Soon, enemies will experience how provocative and unpleasant it is to sit and watch the ships of an adversary run rampant on the fringes of sovereign waters," it quoted him as saying.
