In brief
After a new warship capsized during launch, North Korean engineers devised an unconventional solution by utilizing balloons and hundreds of workers to get the 5,000-ton vessel back afloat.
North Korea recently faced an unexpected hiccup in its naval modernization when a new 5,000-ton Choe Hyun-class destroyer capsized during its launch. In a bid to right the ship, engineers opted for a unique strategy: they turned to balloons and rallied hundreds of workers, showcasing determination under the leadership of Kim Jong-un.Satellite imagery from the harbor of Chongjin revealed the once-toppled vessel upright again about two weeks post-incident, floating safely away from the initial ramp failure. In contrast, more developed nations such as South Korea would have likely employed heavy machinery like a crane barge for such a task. Historically, the method of parbuckling—used famously during the 2013 Costa Concordia rescue—was also bypassed in favor of this creative approach.Despite the embarrassment of the capsizing, this inventive solution highlights the lengths North Korea is willing to go to modernize its military capabilities, even within the limitations they face.
