North Korean state media confirmed that the launching ceremony of the 2nd Choi-Hyun-class frigate, Kang Kon, took place in Raijin on June 12. However, the ship is currently in drydock after a failed launch attempt in May that caused it to partially sink.
The Failed First Attempt and the Ceremony That Followed
According to a report by The War Zone, the frigate’s first unsuccessful launch attempt took place in the port city of Chongjin on May 21. The ship, which capsized in the water, was only righted on June 2 and was later towed to a dry dock facility in the northeastern port city of Rajin.
“In today’s images, a large crowd of spectators can be seen on the dock next to the destroyer, ceremonial flags appear to be flying on the ship, and dozens of buses carrying people to the ceremony are positioned nearby,” reads satellite images shared by Maxar ahead of the ceremony. Additionally, pavilions, viewing stands, and other temporary structures aligned with a major event (such as a launch ceremony) can be seen in the images, suggesting that despite the setback, the ceremony was carried out as planned.
The Mystery Behind Quick Repair
The frigate appears to be largely intact in recent images, raising questions among observers. Significant structural damage was evident in older satellite images (even as recently as June 8). It remains unclear how the North Koreans were able to achieve this “restoration” so quickly, even superficially.
The speed of the repair has raised the question of whether parts were taken from the first Choi-Hyun frigate ever built. However, according to satellite images of the first Choi-Hyun in Nampo on the west coast of North Korea, this seems almost impossible, as the ship is seen in port in the low-resolution images available. Furthermore, it would be extremely difficult for North Korea to send a warship from one side of the Korean Peninsula to the other without being seen. As such, the maritime border between North and South Korea is closely monitored and is an area that has seen violent clashes in the past.
The full scale and extent of the damage to the second frigate during the failed launch, as well as what actual repairs have been done so far, remain unclear. While the North Koreans have reportedly achieved an ambitious goal of fixing the ship within at least 10 days of the initial incident, it is highly doubtful whether they will actually be able to meet an additional directive to fully restore the ship before the end of this month. The situation has also raised new debates about North Korea’s military production capabilities and lack of transparency.
