North Korea held a launch ceremony for a new 5,000-ton-class destroyer, which had run aground during its launch on the 21st of last month, after repairing it in just 22 days.
On the 13th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that "the launch ceremony of the Korean People's Army Navy destroyer was held on June 12 at the Rajin Shipyard."
Chairperson Kim Jong Un noted in a speech at the launch ceremony that "after about two weeks since the accident occurred, we safely positioned the ship and launched it on the water, and today we have completed the repairs as planned ahead of the Central Committee plenary meeting."
According to the order of the Labor Party Central Military Commission, the class of this vessel was revealed to be the 'Choe Hyun-class,' launched last April, confirming it as a 5,000-ton-class destroyer, and it was named 'Kang Gun Ho.' Kang Gun was a partisan who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Manchuria during the occupation. After the establishment of the regime, he served as the first Chief of General Staff of the People's Army and the Deputy Minister of National Defense and was killed in action during the Korean War.
The North Korean destroyer tipped over during its launch ceremony at the Chongjin Shipyard on the 21st of last month when the rear of the ship entered the water first, causing the bow to get stuck on land.
After witnessing the accident firsthand, Commissioner Kim instructed that those responsible should be punished and that repairs must be completed by the end of June, ahead of the 12th Party plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee.