Choe Hyon, one of the two largest destroyers that North Korea will dispose of has been damaged during the launching ceremony. Everything was happening in the shipyard in the port city of Chongjin in the east of the country.
Satellite photos published by Maxar show that The unit remained on the surface of the water, overturned to the side. It was covered with blue tarpaulins and secured with ropes.
North Korea. Destroyer launched by an inexperienced team
Experts of the Strategic and International Studies Center in Washington after analyzing photos indicated that The stern was in the water“as a result of slipping into prams placed under the ship” and the beak “He remained on the side ramp.”
They also pointed out that the shipyard in Chongjin has been producing trade and fishing vessels so far, and thus She lacks experience in launching large war units. The first of the destroyers was drained into the water in another shipyard.
The accident probably occurred in front of the crowd, which, according to military analysts, could make it Kim Jong Un felt publicly humiliated.
According to the North Korean agency KCNA The process of lifting the destroyer will last about 10 days. Earlier it takes two or three days to pump water from flooded channels.
The agency announced that Damage “was not serious” in the bottom of the ship “there are no holes”. Initially, Pyongyang reported that part of the ship was “crushed”. A detailed inspection was to exclude serious defects.
“The right side of the hull was outlined, a A certain amount of sea water was received by the stern section through the rescue channel” – Kcna said.
North Korea. An accident while launching a destroyer. Everything in front of Kim Jong Una
Media from North Korea I would like to inform you that an investigation has started to clarify the causes of the accident and indications of the guilty. The shipyard manager, Hong Kil Ho, was called by law enforcement agencies.
Kim Jong Un called the event “criminal act” caused by “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.”
The accident took place a few weeks after KNorth Orea presented a similar destroyer with a displacement of 5000 tons. Kim called this war ship a “breakthrough” in the modernization of the North Korean Navy. The unit is to be arranged at the beginning of next year.