North Korean Destroyer's Failed Launch: A Blow to Kim Jong Un's Naval Ambitions?

North Korean Destroyer Capsizes During Launch: A Setback, But Not a Halt to Modernization Efforts A new 5,000-ton North Korean destroyer capsized during its launch on May 24, 2025, at the Chongjin shipyard. The incident, witnessed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has sparked international interest and analysis. While the failure is a significant setback, experts believe it won't stop Kim's ambition to modernize his navy. Satellite imagery shows the destroyer tilting and eventually capsizing, with a blue tarp later covering the vessel, suggesting an attempt to conceal damage. Captain (Ret.) Carl Schuster, a US Navy expert, stated, "The blue tarp signifies the damage they don't want us to see." The video also highlights the technological gap between North Korea's and South Korea's navies. Military analyst Mike Valerio noted that South Korea's fleet would receive support from US forces in the event of conflict. The video uses bar graphs to compare the numbers of various naval vessels, highlighting North Korea's smaller numbers of more advanced ships. Despite the setback, Rear Admiral Kim Duk-ki of the South Korean Navy, expressed concern about the implications: "The submarine threat is higher than we expected because the submarine force history of the North Korean Navy is longer than that of South Korea." Yu Yong Weon, a member of the South Korean National Assembly, added that while some initially dismissed the new destroyer as "empty shell," it has the potential to become a significant warship. Kim Jong Un's public goal is to launch nuclear weapons from his modernized navy, but this could still be years away. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the region and the challenges North Korea faces in its efforts to modernize its military capabilities.