North Korea finally raises damaged destroyer: what will happen to the "pride of the fleet"
The DPRK has managed to levelled the destroyer, which capsized during the launching ceremony. However, the repair promises to be difficult due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure.
Here's What We Know
On 2 June, 38 North analysts recorded for the first time that the damaged Choi Hyun-class destroyer was in an upright position on satellite images. This comes after nearly two weeks of attempts to levelling it following the 21 May accident, when the ship partially capsized during a sideways launch.
The images show a helicopter pad at the stern and the destroyer's bow still on the beach, indicating possible damage to the sonar section. Workers were probably manually pulling cables and using balloons to get the ship upright.
According to 38 North, the accident could have been caused by a failure of the trigger mechanism in the bow. The ship was effectively "stuck" - the stern went into the water, while the bow remained on the launching structure.
Commercial satellite imagery shows that the Choe Hyun class destroyer at Chongjin has been returned to an upright position. https://t.co/vzjsinZoqI
- 38 North (@38NorthNK) 3 June 2025
Now, to repair the ship, it will need to be moved out of the water, but the shipyard in Chongjin, where the accident occurred, does not have the appropriate equipment for this. The shipyard is mainly engaged in the construction of civilian cargo and fishing vessels, and this is the first time it has launched such a large warship. According to Reuters, the plant's infrastructure is not up to the task of repairing destroyer-class ships.
The bow of the ship is currently on the launching mechanism, which may mean plans to repair it as a priority, analysts say. However, even if it succeeds, it will be difficult to return the ship to service without access to a large ship repair dock.
On 22 May, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un publicly condemned the accident, calling it a "crime", and launched a full-scale investigation. According to preliminary data, three people involved in the failed launch of the destroyer have been detained.
Source: 38 North
