Partially immersed North Korean frigate appears upright again in satellite image

North -Korea seems to make progress when repairing the second in his Choi Hyun Class frigates, which rolled over and partially immersed after an incident during the launch ceremony last month. Recent images of the warship indicate that it has now returned to an upright position, although the target of repairing the frigate remains very dubious before the end of this month.

38 North, a website dedicated to the analysis of Noord -Korea, today published satellite images of Airbus Defense and Space, from the scene on Chongjin Shipyard on 2 June, as shown in the social media post below. This seems to show the warship upright for the first time since the failed launch on May 21. Although there is light skyshame above the head, the cockpit deck – in particular the markings for the helicopter platform – seems to be visible at the stern and the general profile of the ship has changed.

This is a fairly incredible speed. The image is partially darkened by Cloud, but the capsized North Korean warship is now upright again. What makes it even more impressive is that they apparently have done it all manually.

: Airbus Space and Defense/38 North, 2 junior.38north.org/2025/06/quic…

-Martyn Williams (@martyn.bsky.social) 2025-06-03t18: 28: 44.771Z

The ship, which has an estimated relocation of 5,000 tons, is the second of its class, after the Choi Hyonwho was officially unveiled in April. You can read everything about the heavily armed class frigates in our previous detailed analysis and follow-up report.

38 NORTH notes that employees can see ropes pulling out of the quay, in an attempt to manually straighten the warship, in a separate satellite image of Airbus defense and space taken on 29 May. At least 30 buoys and/or airbags can be seen next to the ship, probably to help stabilize it. Some reports have suggested that these were barrage balloons, although that does not seem logical in this case.

At this stage it is not possible to determine the damage level that the frigate sustained during his failed launch. 38 NORTH suggests that the launch mechanism may have stalled in the arch of the ship and left it on the land while the stern slid into the water, after which the boat fell. In the images of 29 May there seems to be damage around the arc part.

If the ship is successfully corrected, the next steps in the repair process are unclear. There is no dry dock that the ship can easily be moved in Chongjin if that level is required. At the same time, taking it to another garden can be a challenge, especially if there is serious damage to the hull. The search for help from external, including from Russia or China, can be an option. In this case, a floating dry dock can be especially useful.

The newest navy torpedoer in Noord -Korea was considerably damaged before the launch. In a rare recognition, the State news agency Kcna van Noord -Korea reported yesterday that an incident took place with a new destroyer in Chongjin, who was almost launched. pic.twitter.com/0pfuqehynf

– Open Source Center (@osc_London) May 22, 2025

North Korean state media have previously claimed that there is no serious damage to the warship, which is at its best very Doubtful, if not impossible.

“Detailed underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, in contrast to the first announcement, no holes were made on the buttocks of the warship, the hull starboard was scratched, and a certain amount of seawater flowed in the strict part by the rescue channel,” according to a report by KCNA on 23 May. “Measures. The above data is not related to the cause of the accident and the identification of responsibility.”

At least, the North Korean shipyard seems to have made considerable progress in the initial recovery of the ship, more or less in accordance with official estimates. “Experts estimate that it will take two or three days to maintain the balance of the warship by pumping the seawater from the flooded room and let the bow leave the Slipway, and 10 days to restore the side of the warship,” ” Kcna Also said in the report of 23 May.

On the same day, TWZ Acquired satellite images with the affected vessel that is still covered with blue sails, but now with two steel cables that connect it to a shipyard, while the recovery effort began to take shape.

Take into account the embarrassing and highly public character of the incident, and the fact that the launch ceremony was attended by Dictator Kim Jong Un, there is very necessary to have the warship repaired, at least appearance, as quickly as possible.

Kim called the incident 'a criminal law' and promised that the responsible officials would be dealt with this month during the plenary meeting of the Central Committee party. This is a high level of the ruling employee party of North Korea. At least three shipping unitaries were held, Hong, Hong, Hem was held from the next study, Hong, the following examination. Initially called by law enforcement officials, but does not seem to have been held a senior officer of North Korean Communist Party, Ri Hyong Son, was also called.

Earlier this month, Kim also called on the frigate to be restored before the same meeting, something that was met with widespread skepticism outside North Korea.

Although bringing the frigate to an upright position would be an achievement, there will probably be much more obvious, but critical work ahead. How it looks upright now, with one part in the water and the other on the coast, is also a precarious situation in itself.

The extent to which the incident and his aftermath were played with a view to the audience is certainly remarkable. Unusually, Pyongyang announced details about the incident shortly after it happened, including comments from Kim, in a clear attempt to control the story. In combination with the availability of satellite images, this now means that there will be an even greater focus on the recovery efforts, especially considering Kim's fantastic timeline for its restoration.

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