'Fully restored': North Korea relaunches warship weeks after embarrassing capsize; Kim Jong Un oversees

North Korea relaunched its new 5,000-ton naval destroyer on Thursday, less than a month after the warship capsized during its initial launch attempt. Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the second launch at Rajin Port alongside his daughter Kim Ju Ae.The destroyer is one of two newly built warships of its kind launched by Pyongyang since April. These vessels are now the largest in North Korea’s navy and are believed to be capable of launching nuclear weapons. Kim has prioritised the development of a nuclear-armed navy and has announced plans to build two more destroyers in the next year.The warship’s initial launch in May ended in failure when it capsized in the harbor.

Kim was reportedly furious over the incident and ordered urgent repairs. At least four officials, three from the shipyard and one senior official, were arrested following the mishap.Satellite images captured over recent weeks showed the damaged ship being towed, repaired, and eventually refloated before it was docked at the pier. Despite concerns over the speed of the restoration, state media said the ship has now been “fully restored.”

Experts outside North Korea, however, are skeptical whether proper repairs could have been completed in such a short time.During the relaunch ceremony, Kim dismissed the failed launch as a minor setback and warned that North Korea’s military modernisation program remains on track."Soon, enemies will experience how provocative and unpleasant it is to sit and watch the ships of an adversary run rampant on the fringes of sovereign waters," KCNA quoted him as saying.