Seoul, Korea
CNN
–
North Korea moved new warships damaged by the failed launch to ports near the Russian border. Analysts say they can point to Moscow’s role in repairing vessels.
Satellite images taken by Maxor Technologies on Sunday show that the 5,000-ton destroyer has not yet been named in the dry dock at the Port of Razin, part of North Korea’s Layson special economy, adjacent to the short border with Russia.
Though it is not a major shipbuilding facility like the shipyard in the northeastern city of Chongjin, where the fire accident occurred, Rajn has facilities for modest repairs and maintenance, said Yu Jihoon, director of external cooperation and an associate researcher at the Korea Institute of Defense Analysis.
And proximity to Russia will “have a key node in North Korea’s efforts to deepen economic and potential military ties with Moscow,” Yu said.
A 2024 report from the Modern Warfare Institute in West Point, the US Military Academy, calls the Rathon economy “a key point of North Korea-Russia cooperation that has recently been involved in North Korea’s arms shipment to Russia for use in Ukraine.”
The warship was damaged on May 21, and while it was fired its stern entered the water, but the bow was stuck on land. The ship has turned on the side of the failed operation.
Attending the launch ceremony, North Korean leader Kim Jong ordered the destroyers to be repaired at a meeting of the Controlling Workers’ Party in late June, calling it a matter of national honor.
State media last week met Kim’s timeline, reporting that repairs at Rajin Dry Dock would take between 7-10 days.
Retired South Korean Kim Duk Ki told CNN on Monday that repair times will depend on the ship’s damage.
Kim said the ship’s sonar and depth discoverer in the bow section could have been damaged during the failed launch.
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Such damages probably require the help of foreigners, he said.
“North Korea is believed to have lacked the technology for sonar systems, so it is likely that it imported from China or Russia,” Kim said.
However, South Korean lawmaker Yu Yong-Weon told CNN that he believes his troops are relatively unlikely to suffer sonar damage on North Korean ships.
“External damage to the vessels does not appear to be important, and the main issue appears to be flooding the warships,” said the South Korean military rating.
Analysts said the ship’s interior space, machinery and electronics, would need to cleanse seawater and dry salt in the repair process.
Yu said Russia’s assistance in the repair process could be possible, but it would be difficult to verify whether only engineers are involved, not the movement of key equipment.
According to the Watchdog, North Korea is believed to have sent millions of munitions, including missiles and rockets, to Russia.
In return, Russia has provided North Korea with valuable weapons technology, including air defense equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, electronic warfare systems and sophisticated oil, Watchdog said last month.
