North Korea Relaunches Destroyer After Capsize

North Korea relaunched its 5,000-ton destroyer Kang Kon at the Rajin shipyard, just weeks after the warship capsized and was submerged for nearly two weeks, with Kim Jong Un presiding over the ceremony. Four officials were detained for 'criminal negligence' following the incident. Kim declared the relaunch evidence of rapid naval transformation and vowed to build at least two more destroyers annually to counter perceived threats from the U.S. and its allies. The Kang Kon is part of the Choe Hyon class, North Korea's largest warships, signaling an effort to increase maritime presence and potentially participate in joint exercises with China and Russia. Analysts view the relaunch as having significant geopolitical implications, positioning North Korea as a counterbalance to U.S.-led alliances in the region. However, outside experts remain skeptical about the destroyer's true operational readiness due to the short repair period after its submersion.