Satellite images: Damage to North Korean warship in dry dock

Satellite images: Damage to North Korean warship in dry dock

Seoul, South Korea - North Korea has moved a new warship that was damaged at a failed start to a port near the Russian border. Analysts see it a sign of a possible role of Russia when repairing the ship.

Details on the damaged warship

Satellite images that were taken on Sunday by Maxar Technologies show the 5,000 tons of destroyers, which has so far not been called, in a docking system in the port of Rajin. This port belongs to the Rason special zone of North Korea, which is directly adjacent to the short border with Russia.

repair options in Rajin

Although Rajin is not a big shipyard like that in northeastern Chongjin, where the accident took place, the port has facilities for basic repairs and maintenance work. Yu Jihoon, director of external cooperation and research assistant at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, emphasizes that the proximity to Russia Rajin makes an important hub for North Korea's efforts to deepen the economic and possibly military relationships with Moscow

North Korea Russia cooperation

According to a report by the Modern War Institute of the Military Academy West Point of 2024, the Rason special zone is referred to as "an important point of cooperation between North Korea and Russia" and was recently associated with arms deliveries to North Korea to Russia that are to be used in Ukraine.

unsuccessful shipping position

The destroyer was damaged on May 21 when the rear went into the water during his start, but the bow stayed firmly on the ground, which tipped the ship to the side.

repair commands by Kim Jong Un

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, who took part in the celebration to commit the ship, demanded that the destroyer will be repaired until the plenary session of the ruling workers' party at the end of June. He described this as a question of national honor.

time frame for repairs

State media reported last week that the repairs in Rajin-Dock would take 7 to 10 days, which corresponds to the KIM time frame. The retired South Korean Admiral Kim Duk-Ki told CNN that the duration of the repairs depend on the extent of the damage on the ship. He pointed out that it was possible that the sonar devices and depth knives in the bow area were damaged during the unsuccessful start.