{"id":11389,"date":"2025-06-13T19:02:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T19:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=11389"},"modified":"2025-06-13T19:02:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T19:02:26","slug":"north-korea-repairs-relaunches-destroyer-for-second-time-plans-2-more-warships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krogragg.com\/?p=11389","title":{"rendered":"North Korea Repairs & Relaunches Destroyer For Second Time, Plans 2 More Warships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
North Korea Repairs & Relaunches Destroyer For Second Time, Plans 2 More Warships<\/div>\n

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Screengrab from YouTube video posted by NewsFlash 24<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

North Korea has claimed it successfully repaired and relaunched a 5,000-ton destroyer that had suffered damage during a failed launch last month.<\/p>\n

The vessel, named Kang Kon, is the second Choe Hyon-class destroyer built by the country this year and was relaunched during a ceremony at the northeastern port of Rajin on June 12, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).<\/p>\n

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally attended the event and praised the shipbuilding teams for their efforts to helping modernise the navy, despite facing many challenges. He described the destroyer as a crucial part of strengthening the country\u2019s naval force and expanding its military\u2019s operational range.<\/p>\n

The destroyer had previously run into trouble during its initial launch attempt in May, with North Korean state media later revealing that the ship had suffered a \u201cserious accident\u201d and had ended up foundering in shallow waters.<\/p>\n

Following the incident, Kim criticised the failure and blamed it on \u201ccriminal negligence.\u201d Four officials, including the vice director of the Workers\u2019 Party\u2019s munitions industry department, were detained in connection with the failed launch.<\/p>\n

Kim said the restored Kang Kon destroyer would be ready for naval operations by mid-2026. He also revealed that the ruling Workers\u2019 Party of Korea has approved plans to build two more destroyers of the same class next year.<\/p>\n

According to KCNA, Kim repeated earlier claims that North Korea\u2019s naval expansion is a necessary and defensive response to increasing military pressure from the United States and its allies in Asia. He accused them of heightening the risk of nuclear conflict through joint military drills and deployment of strategic assets in the region.<\/p>\n

During the ceremony, Kim issued a warning to what he called enemy forces, saying they would soon realise how \u201cprovocative and unpleasant\u201d it is to witness foreign warships near North Korea\u2019s waters. He added that North Korea would respond with \u201coverwhelming military action\u201d if provoked.<\/p>\n