North Korea has launched its 5,000-tonne destroyer again. The ship tipped over two weeks ago during the first launch. However, engineers restored the balance earlier this week. On Thursday, the vessel was launched and is now docked at a pier, according to KCNA. The ruling party expects it to be fully restored before their meeting this month.

Kim Unleashes Strong Criticism

Kim Jong Un was present during the first failed launch. He reacted sharply. He called the accident a "criminal act" and said it "severely damaged the [country’s] dignity and pride." He blamed the event on “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.”

Top Officials Face Arrest

The regime quickly took action. Authorities arrested at least four senior officials. Among them was Ri Hyong-son, deputy director of the ruling party’s Munitions Industry Department. He also serves on the Central Military Commission, which manages the army and military policies.

Though North Korea has not revealed their punishment, the country is known for harsh penalties. Officials found guilty in the past have faced forced labor or even death.

Manual Work Restored the Ship

Experts from 38 North said workers used basic methods to fix the vessel. They used ropes from the dock and barrage balloons to lift and balance it. Satellite images showed that some balloons were still tied to the ship after rebalancing.

Analysts Decode Kim’s Anger

Observers say Kim’s tough response was strategic. He wants to keep his strong image and move forward with military goals. Jihoon Yu, a defense analyst, said the regime is “deeply invested in the image of a rising military power.” He added the failure might make them push even harder. Kim’s harsh words, according to Yu, also help protect his image and assert his control. Likewise, Michael Madden from the Stimson Center said this shows how much Kim values warship development. It’s clearly a top priority.

Another Warship Shown Earlier

Just weeks before the failed launch, North Korea unveiled a similar destroyer elsewhere in the country. At that event, Kim called the ship a “breakthrough” in modernizing the navy. He also promised to deploy it early next year.

Despite embarrassment from the failed launch, North Korea moved fast to fix the damage. Kim Jong Un turned the situation into a show of power. He punished the guilty, relaunched the ship, and signaled that the military upgrades will continue without delay.