A washed national shame? North Korea announced this Thursday, June 12, having repaired and launched its second naval destroyer in the presence of the manager Kim Jong-un.
It should be said that three weeks ago, the new 5,000-ton Hyun missile ship missile had overturned under the eyes of North Korea and Kim Jong-un. The incident had been described as “National shame”, of “criminal act” containing the “dignity of the State”.
The launch slide had left, unbalanced the ship, damaging the helmet. The destroyer had finally ended up.
In early June, the building was released, several officials were arrested and Kim Jong-un ordered the restoration of the building.
During a sumptuous ceremony on Thursday, the dictator rose aboard the warship and told the troops that nothing could hinder the efforts of his country to strengthen his naval combat power against hostilities led by the United States, the Corean Central Press Agency reported Friday.
Skepticism
“It will not spend much time before enemy nations realize how provocative and unpleasant it is to see our warships evolve freely near the limits of their territorial waters,” he triumphed to Kim Jong-un.
However, the extremely secret nature of the country means that any independent confirmation of the repair of the ship is practically impossible. External observers doubt the proper engine operation, weapons systems and other electronic equipment, certain parts of the ship have remained submerged for approximately two weeks.
External experts had previously indicated that the scope of the damage suffered by the destroyer remained indefinite and had questioned the statements of North Korea according to which it would have taken ten days to pump seawater, straighten the ship and repair damage that it called “without gravity.”
“Given the time required to rescue the ship, they would have had less than two weeks to make real repairs,” said the Institut Asan in Seoul political studies at the ASA AP Yang UK Institute. “Would it have been enough to completely repair the ship and make it operational? I think it is highly unlikely.”
Two other destroyers in the program
For his part, Lee Illwoo, an expert in the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said that the probably flooded elements of the North Korean ship were their machinery room, their missile launch tubes and its anti -aircraft weapons systems, which make up the electronic systems very vulnerable to the damage in case of exposure to seawater.
And estimate that Russian experts have probably helped North Korea to make repairs.
Kim Jong-un said that the ruling workers party had confirmed their intention to build two other 5,000 class tons next year, according to a Kcna office on Friday.
He reiterated his previous statements that the strengthening of their naval capacities was a justified response to the threats of the United States and South Korea, which in recent years intensified their joint military exercises. He said the North would respond to these external threats with “overwhelming military action.”
Source: BFM TV
