North Korea claims new destroyer can now float weeks after humiliating 'launch'



North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un attended the communist regime's launch ceremony of the second of its two new Choe Hyon-class destroyers at the Cheongjin shipyard in eastern port city of Chongjin on May 21. The side-launch went really, really poorly.

Jong Un looked on as his brand-new, 5,511-ton, 144-meter warship immediately capsized.

After laying on its side for weeks, North Korean state media now claims the ship was been righted. Nevertheless, the damage has been done — both literally and figuratively.

'Criminal act caused by sheer callousness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism.'

The Korean Central News Agency attributed the failure to "inexperienced command and operational carelessness in the course of the launch," claiming that "the launch slide of the stern departed first and stranded as the [hydro-pneumatic catapult] failed to move in parallel, holes made at some sections of the warship's bottom disrupted its balance, and the bow failed to leave the slipway, leading to a serious accident."

Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector who helms the World Institute for North Korea Studies, told the Guardian, "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process."

Jong Un rushed to the conclusion that the incident was a "criminal act caused by sheer callousness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism, which should never occur and could not be tolerated."

RELATED: Nancy Pelosi outraged after Defense Sec. Hegseth orders removal of gay icon's name from naval ship

Photo by Contributor/Getty Images

While the communist regime lost face over the accident, the individual it scapegoated — Ri Hyong Son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Party Central Committee — will likely lose a great deal more. Son was arrested and deemed "greatly responsible," according to state media.

38 North, a project of the Stimson Center, a peace-oriented think tank, indicated that in the wake of the accident, there were desperate efforts in recent days to manually right the ship. Satellite imagery revealed that numerous barrage balloons were employed to keep the communist ship afloat while cables were fastened to the destroyer to stabilize its position.

Additional satellite images reportedly indicate damage to the sonar bow section, which will require significant repairs at a dry dock.

State media claimed Friday — and satellite imagery confirms — that the ship had been balanced and launched the previous day and can now stay afloat, moored at the pier.

The South Korean military reportedly indicated that the battered and bruised vessel may have been developed with the help of the Russians in exchange for the regime sending soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Biden Just Invited World War 3 By Greenlighting Long-Range Missiles Against Russia

'It would substantially change the very essence, the nature of the conflict,' Putin warned in September.

Kamala Harris’ Foreign Policy Would Make The World More Unstable Than It Already Is

There's no reason to believe the geopolitical issues breaking out now under Biden-Harris would be fixed by a Harris-Walz administration.

Trump called Kim Jong Un ‘Rocket Man’— and Elton John ‘thought it was brilliant’



Donald Trump has been a fan of Elton John for years — and the liberal media was expecting the pop singer to disapprove.

But to the media's disappointment, the pop star had some kind words to share about the former president in an interview with Variety magazine.

“I know that you’re not a supporter of Donald Trump’s. He loves your music. How did it feel when he took the lyrics to ‘Rocket Man’ and he used it as a nickname for Kim Jong Un?” the reporter asked Elton.

“I laughed, I thought it was brilliant,” Elton responded, laughing again.

“I just thought, good on you Donald, I’m the rocket man,” he continued. “Donald’s always been a fan of mine, and he’s been to my concerts many, many, times. So, I mean, I’ve always been friendly towards him, and I thank him for his support.”

“When he did that I just thought it was hilarious. Made me laugh,” he added.

While the opportunity was ripe for Elton to bad-mouth the former president, he didn’t. And for that, Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” is pleased.

“He’s not saying he’s voting for him, you don’t get the indication that he is,” Rubin says, noting that the reporter tried to get Elton to “go after him and he doesn’t.”

“Most of us don’t want to live in this hyper-polarized, twisted place I would say that we are in right now,” he adds.


Want more from Dave Rubin?

To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

FACT CHECK: Economist Cover Of Vladimir Putin And Joe Biden Is Fake

'The Economist did not publish this cover of Putin and Biden'

Here’s Why Russia And North Korea’s Growing Friendship Is Problematic For America

Russia and North Korea's burgeoning alliance represents a stark challenge to the United States and Western-led world order.

Kamala meets with a man in a dress while Putin and Kim Jong Un conspire?!



While Russia’s Vladimir Putin is getting friendly with all of America’s enemies and holding meetings with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, the White House is executing a much different strategy.

Vice President Kamala Harris invited the cast of Bravo’s “Queer Eye” to visit the White House to celebrate Pride Month.

“Queer Eye” is a show where gay celebrities give straight men makeovers.

Harris then posted videos of their visit, one featuring the caption: “The cast of @QueerEye joined me at the White House to discuss the hard-fought progress the LGBTQI+ community has made in the past 20 years. Thank you for a meaningful conversation, for giving my office your stamp of approval, and for being fabulous.”

One video featured a member of the cast standing behind the podium as if giving a press conference answering questions about his hair.

Glenn Beck can’t believe that these are the people in charge.

“Here he is standing behind the podium at the White House, and then he does a deal with the vice president where he knocks on her door and she opens it up in the West Wing and she’s like ‘Hello,’ and he’s like ‘Surprise’ and they come in, he’s wearing a dress and heels and everything else,” he says.

“Don’t lecture me about women,” he adds, shaking his head.


Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Putin Lands in North Korea for Summit with Kim Jong Un

Russian president Vladimir Putin arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday for a summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The post Putin Lands in North Korea for Summit with Kim Jong Un appeared first on Washington Free Beacon.