SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 North Korea said Friday it had righted a capsized destroyer and moored it at a pier in the northeastern port of Chongjin as it continues to repair the new warship leader Kim Jong Un has described as a significant asset for his nuclear-armed military.
The report by North Korean state media aligned with South Korean military assessments and recent commercial satellite images.
North Korea鈥檚 official Korean Central News Agency said experts will closely examine the ship鈥檚 hull before beginning the next phase of restoration, which will take place at a dry dock at the neighboring port of Rajin and is expected to last seven to 10 days.
Satellite images taken Thursday by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press showed the stricken destroyer upright and floating. It wasn鈥檛 immediately clear from the image just how much damage had been done to the vessel, which had been in the water for days after the failed launch. However, the ship did not appear to be noticeably listing, meaning Pyongyang is likely able to send it onward to the other port to inspect the vessel鈥檚 electronics.
Jo Chun Ryong, a senior official from the ruling Workers鈥 Party, told the agency that the 鈥減erfect restoration of the destroyer will be completed without fail鈥 before a major party congress in late June, a deadline set by Kim.
Outside experts say it remains unclear how severely the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was damaged during a in late May, which triggered a furious response from Kim, who called the failure a 鈥渃riminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism.鈥
North Korean law enforcement authorities have over the incident, including the vice director of the Workers鈥 Party鈥檚 munitions industry department, according to state media. The North鈥檚 main military committee said those responsible would be held accountable for their 鈥渦npardonable criminal act.鈥
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Thursday that the South鈥檚 military assesses that the North Koreans righted the ship earlier this week and are likely conducting drainage operations while examining the damage.
鈥淭he nature and duration of the repair process will vary, depending on internal repairs, additional work or whether the incident affected the keel,鈥 Lee said, referring to the ship鈥檚 structural backbone. 鈥淭his could also affect how the ship is used going forward.鈥
The damaged warship was North Korea鈥檚 second known destroyer and seen as a crucial asset toward Kim鈥檚 goal of modernizing its naval forces. It was in the same class as unveiled in April, which experts assessed as the North鈥檚 largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim lavishly praised that ship, which was launched in the western port of Nampo, saying it advances his goal of expanding the military鈥檚 operations range and nuclear strike capabilities.
State media described that ship as designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim also supervised test-firings of missiles from the destroyer afterward, and state media said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year.
While North Korea鈥檚 naval forces are widely seen as far inferior to those of its rivals, analysts say a destroyer equipped with modern missile and radar systems could still boost the North鈥檚 offensive and defensive capabilities.
South Korean officials and experts say the North鈥檚 destroyer was likely built with as the two countries鈥 military cooperation have intensified amid Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 war on Ukraine. Kim鈥檚 government has supplied Russia with thousands of troops and large shipments of military equipment, including artillery and ballistic missiles, to support its warfighting. Washington and Seoul have expressed concern that, in return, Kim may seek Russian technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military.
in Pyongyang on Wednesday in the latest sign of the countries鈥 deepening ties.
Kim has framed his arms buildup as a response to perceived and South Korea, which have been expanded joint military exercises in reaction to the North鈥檚 advancing nuclear program. Kim says the acquisition of a would be his next big step in strengthening the North Korean navy.
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This report has been edited to correct that North Korea's statement was issued Friday, not Saturday.
