New satellite images reveal that North Korea has deployed balloon-like objects(Mystery Balloons) alongside its damaged 5,000-ton warship, which has been laying on its side and partially submerged since a botched launch last week. The purpose of these objects remains unclear, but experts speculate they could be used to help get the ship back upright or protect it from drone surveillance.
The stricken destroyer, the country’s newest warship, was meant to showcase North Korea’s naval modernization efforts. However, a malfunction during launch caused significant damage, prompting leader Kim Jong Un to call it a “criminal act” and order swift repairs before the late-June plenary session of the ruling Workers’ Party. Officials have detained four people, including the shipyard’s chief engineer, in connection with the failed launch.
Analysts believe the balloons are being used to prevent further flooding, with Rep. Yu Yong-weon, a South Korean National Assembly lawmaker and military analyst, stating, “It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding.” Retired US Navy Captain Carl Schuster suggests the balloons could serve two purposes: preventing low- to mid-level drone reconnaissance or reducing stress on the ship’s damaged area.
Experts warn that using balloons to keep the ship afloat or raise it could lead to further damage. Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, cautions, “It is highly likely that the ship is under quite a lot of stress anyway, and lifting from above could compound those stresses.” Normal procedure would involve getting as much buoyancy as possible in the ship and then raising it from below.
The ship’s precarious position, half in and half out of the water, makes the salvage operation unusually complex. Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at CNA, notes, “Having it half in and half out of the water is basically the worst possible situation.” Childs suggests that North Korea may need to dismantle the ship and salvage what it can, as righting it from its current position is an extremely complex task.