North Korea’s newest frigate suffered major damage during launch, revealing gaps in technical expertise and repair infrastructure, raising doubts about its naval ambitions and Kim Jong-un’s rushed military timeline.
Last month, during a launch ceremony attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Hermit Kingdom’s newest warship was seriously damaged after a malfunction on the slipway at the Chongjin Shipyard. The as-yet-unnamed 5,000-ton Choe Hyun-class frigate has been moved to a dry dock facility, but based on satellite photos, it is unclear if the ship can be repaired as quickly as Kim has demanded. There is even the possibility that the damage is worse than initially anticipated.
The warship is the second of a new class of frigates named after the North Korean Cold War general. It is part of a broader effort by North Korea to build a modern blue-water navy capable of operating well beyond its coastal waters. The program has been ambitious, and Pyongyang has received support from Moscow.
However, the Chongjin shipyard on North Korea’s eastern coast has primarily produced cargo and fishing vessels, while lacking the necessary infrastructure, such as a large dry dock. A bigger issue may have been a lack of personnel with the familiarity and skills to undertake such an operation.
During the launch, the frigate slid prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the shipway.
How Badly Is the North Korean Warship Damaged?
Images captured by US satellite intelligence firm Maxar provided new details about the extent of the damage and the efforts to recover the ship.
“In most developed countries, including South Korea, engineers would have used a barge with a gigantic crane to lift the ship and set it right,” The New York Times explained, citing Hong Min, an expert on North Korea’s military at the Seoul-based Korea Institute for National Unification.
As North Korea lacks the modern machinery to lift the capsized warship, hundreds of workers were deployed. They used brute force to dislodge the vessel by pulling on cables to right it, while large balloons helped increase its buoyancy. The ship was then prepared for a short voyage to a ship repair facility 50 miles away, where it has since been spotted.
Almost immediately after the mishap, the North Korean despot blamed multiple state agencies, including the Munitions Industry Department, the Institute of Dynamics of the State Academy of Sciences, the Kim Chaek University of Technology, and the Central Ship Design Institute.
Kim called the incident a “criminal act” that “severely damaged [North Korea’s] dignity and pride.”
According to the BBC, at least four officials were arrested. That included Ri Hyong-son, the deputy director of the ruling Workers’ Party’s Munitions Industry Department. The punishment that those accused of being responsible for the damage could include being sent to forced labor camps or even death.
Can the North Korean Warship Be Repaired?
The same questions that were asked immediately after the accident was acknowledged ring true now: Can the damaged frigate be repaired?
The short answer is yes; far more seriously damaged warships have been repaired. However, such endeavors require significant effort that can’t be rushed.
Kim isn’t known for being patient and had demanded that repairs to the warship be completed by the end of June. Naval experts believe the project would take months, not weeks.
North Korean state media has attempted to downplay the extent of the damage, suggesting the hull was simply “scratched” and that recovery efforts would be speedy.
North Korea Turns Its Attention to Another Warship
Even if repairs to the damaged warship are delayed, Pyongyang may attempt to turn the focus to another warship now under construction in another part of North Korea. This warship is also part of the country’s naval expansion, and according to state media, it will be deployed next year.
This rapid pace may explain how the mishap occurred, but it also raises questions about whether the vessels are as capable as Pyongyang has claimed them to be. The New York Times also reported that the first Choe Hyon guided-missile destroyer took part in missile launches just days after its launch. Typically, such warships would undergo months of sea trials before being handed over to the navy.
Seaworthiness seems secondary to propaganda for North Korea, but the actual capabilities often overshadow safety with many of the Hermit Kingdom’s military programs.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/Chintung Lee.
