Latest news with #YuYong-weon
9 News
3 days 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.
Time of India
3 days 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.
Egypt Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
North Korea deploys mystery balloon-like objects to stricken warship, satellite photos show
Seoul, South Korea CNN — New satellite images show that 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.
Korea Herald
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
N. Korean drones unveiled this week likely use AI to identify, strike S. Korean, US equipment: lawmaker
North Korean drones unveiled this week likely incorporate artificial intelligence technology to identify and autonomously strike South Korean and US military equipment, a South Korean lawmaker said Friday. Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the ruling People Power Party made the analysis after the North's state media reported Thursday the country's leader Kim Jong-un oversaw tests of "suicide attack" drones equipped with new AI technology earlier this week. State media photos showed the drones striking targets similar in appearance to South Korean and US military equipment, including the South's mobile Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile system and the US Stryker armored fighting vehicle stationed in South Korea. Yu said the suicide drone is likely capable of carrying out autonomous strikes by identifying South Korean and US military equipment using trained data. The drone's attack capabilities have also likely been improved, given that the North conducted a similar test last November of drones attacking a passenger car, not military vehicles. This week's test also featured a quadcopter dropping a bomb onto a target for the first time, highlighting the North's efforts to develop a wide range of attack drones. "North Korea is copying military technology from various countries, including China and Russia, and improving its weapons systems for modern warfare based on its experience from the Ukraine war apparently to completely transform itself," Yu said. North Korean troops are believed to be gaining real combat experience from the war, having deployed thousands of troops in support of Russia. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Ukrainian military using Korean leaflets to urge North Korean soldiers to surrender
The Ukrainian military is distributing leaflets written in Korean in an effort to convince North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia to surrender, according to a South Korean lawmaker who recently returned from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. People Power Party Rep. Yu Yong-weon said Sunday the Ukrainian military was waging active psychological warfare against the North Korean troops, with one example being the propaganda leaflets. A leaflet revealed by Yu read: "Surrender, and live your dream in South Korea." The leaflet featured a drawing of a man in a North Korean military uniform with teary eyes and a thought bubble showing a happy family with the South Korean flag underneath. Yu said Ukrainian authorities told him that North Korean soldiers are usually "already thoroughly psychologically trained," meaning the leaflets have had little effect. So far Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers as prisoners of war, according to Yu, both of whom have expressed willingness to defect to South Korea.
