Satellite imagery shows North Korea's efforts to rescue the distressed destroyer.

According to researcher Jennifer Jun, North Korea has given a very vague timeline for repairing and restoring the recently damaged 5,000-ton destroyer.

During its launch at Chongjin port in northeastern North Korea on May 21, the new 5,000-ton destroyer lost its balance after a slipway at the stern slid off course prematurely and became stuck. This resulted in several sections of the ship's hull being crushed, causing the destroyer to lose its stability. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

A day after the unexpected accident during the ship's launch ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un, the North Korean government has been urgently trying to repair the 5,000-ton destroyer. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

New satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone shows the unidentified vessel capsized on its side, with its stern partially submerged. The hull is currently covered with a blue tarp, but two additional steel cables now connect it to the dock. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

“These two steel cables are strung to provide temporary anchorage for the ship, maintaining stable tension to prevent any further movement of the hull and ensure the safety of the entire structure,” Jennifer Jun, a research fellow specializing in image analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told The War Zone. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

Meanwhile, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that: “Experts estimate it will take two or three days to balance the warship by pumping seawater out of the flooded compartment and pushing the bow out of the slide, and about 10 days to restore the hull.” Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

North Korean officials also expressed optimism about the ship's condition. They stated that, upon detailed underwater and internal inspections, contrary to initial reports, no holes were found in the warship's hull, the starboard side was scratched, and a certain amount of seawater had entered the stern. They also concluded that the damage to the warship was not serious. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

Currently, The War Zone cannot independently verify the statements made by North Korean officials regarding the condition of the ship, although unsurprisingly, they would try to downplay the extent of the damage after the incident. Photo: @Roger.

Jennifer Jun, a research fellow specializing in image analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), also questioned the timeline for the ship's recovery that North Korea had stated. Photo: @Roger.

“Although it’s too early to say for sure without being on the scene, I’m somewhat skeptical about the 10-day estimate, given the heavily tilted and partially submerged vessel, and the slipway infrastructure is likely severely damaged. Even if North Korea manages to get the vessel back to normal within ‘about 10 days,’ I think restoring it to its original condition will definitely take much longer,” Jennifer Jun shared. Photo: @Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Currently, with the availability of satellite imagery, North Korea will find it difficult to conceal the physical condition of the ship, as well as the progress of recovery efforts, even with their unusual attempts such as using blue tarpaulins to cover it. The War Zone will continue to closely monitor developments regarding this incident. Photo: @2025 Maxar Technologies.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/anh-ve-tinh-cho-thay-trieu-tien-no-luc-cuu-khu-truc-gap-nan-post1543701.html