Inside North Korea’s Remarkable Rescue: How a Capsized Warship Was Triumphantly Reclaimed

North Korea faced a major setback last month when a new warship capsized during its launch. Engineers working for Kim Jong-un had to get creative—without the right heavy machinery, they turned to an old-school solution: big balloons and hundreds of workers.

Two weeks later, the ship, a Choe Hyun-class destroyer, was upright in Chongjin Harbor, about 580 feet from where it first launched. This situation highlights the challenges North Korea faces in modernizing its military capabilities. In more technologically advanced countries, like South Korea, such problems would usually be solved with a massive crane or specialized barges. Hong Min, a military expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification, pointed out how different methods are used elsewhere, like parbuckling, which was famously used to right the Costa Concordia after it sank in 2013.

This incident reveals how North Korea’s limited resources impact its naval ambitions. According to a 2021 report, North Korea’s military budget is significantly lower than many other nations, which restricts its ability to advance its forces. The U.S. spends about $800 billion annually on defense, highlighting the stark differences in military infrastructure.

Public reaction to the event was varied. Some joked on social media, comparing the launch failure to a slapstick comedy, while others expressed concern about the implications for regional security. This balance of humor and seriousness reflects how everyday people perceive North Korea’s military intentions.

As North Korea continues to grapple with modernization, incidents like this remind us of the obstacles they face and how they cope with these challenges. The future of their military ventures is uncertain, but the world is watching closely.



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vis-video,Defense and Military Forces,Kim Jong-un,North Korea