---
title: "North Korea's warship launched after botched first attempt, KCNA says"
description: "North Korea has launched a warship that was damaged in May upon its attempted first launch, state media KCNA reported on Friday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-06-north-koreas-warship-launched-after-botched-first-attempt-kcna-says/"
published: "2025-06-06T04:36:13"
updated: "2025-06-06T04:36:15"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 102
---

# North Korea's warship launched after botched first attempt, KCNA says

> North Korea has launched a warship that was damaged in May upon its attempted first launch, state media KCNA reported on Friday.

By Reuters · Published 6 June 2025, 06:36 SAST · Updated 6 June 2025, 06:36 SAST

## Key points
- In a classic case of "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again," North Korea's 5,000-tonne destroyer is back afloat and under expert scrutiny, all in a race to impress Kim Jong Un before the ruling party's upcoming rendezvous.
- North Korea's 5,000-tonne destroyer launched successfully after balance restoration in June.
- Experts to inspect the hull for further restorations at Rajin Dockyard over the next week.
- Full restoration aimed for completion ahead of an upcoming ruling party meeting.
- Kim Jong Un previously criticized the initial launch failure as a "carelessness" issue affecting national dignity.

## Content

After restoring the balance of the 5,000-tonne destroyer earlier in June, it was launched on Thursday and is now moored at a pier, KCNA said.

Experts will examine the hull for the next stage of restorations, to be carried out at Rajin Dockyard for 7-10 days, KCNA said. The ship's full restoration is expected to be completed before a ruling party meeting this month.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who had witnessed the initial failed launch of the destroyer, had excoriated the accident as caused by "carelessness" that tarnished national dignity, and he ordered the ship restored before the party meeting.