Quick Take: Chongjin Destroyer Returned Upright

Kim Jong Un’s instructions to restore its capsized Choe Hyon Class destroyer before the end of June have been met with skepticism. Commercial satellite imagery shows workers at the port in Chongjin have taken a significant step towards that goal.  

Imagery from June 2 shows the warship in the upright position for the first time since the accident on May 21. The ship is partially obscured by light cloud cover, but the helipad markings at the stern are visible. In an update the day after the incident, KCNA reported two-to-three days would be needed to pump out seawater and “10-odd days to restore the warship’s side.” 

The effort to right the ship was a manual process. On imagery from May 29, workers are observed on the quay pulling tethers, presumably connected to the vessel. At least 30 probable barrage balloons had been positioned along only one side of the vessel. Their use initially suggested they were used to keep the vessel afloat, but in hindsight, it appears they were being utilized along with the workers to bring the vessel to an upright position. 

During the failed side-launch, it is likely the launch mechanism became stuck at the ship’s bow, only releasing the stern into the water. Imagery from June 2 shows the bow still remains on land. While difficult to discern the details on the June 2 image, imagery of the site from May 29 shows probable damage to the sonar bow section. To repair this, the ship will need to be moved out of the water to either a large floating drydock or graving dock once afloat. However, Chongjin’s shipyard does not offer this infrastructure. The vessel’s current position—upright but with the bow on the launch mechanism—suggests they may intend to repair the bow first.