Mystery balloon-like objects around damaged North Korean destroyer lead to speculations

North Korea could be using what appears to be balloons around its 5,000-ton destroyer which was damaged during its launching ceremony recently.

 

According to a CNN report, satellite images show the deployment of what could possibly be more than a dozen balloons alongside the damaged vessel, which was designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

 

Some defence experts have pointed out that these could be aerostat—a type of aircraft which remains aloft by using buoyancy, specifically by being filled with a gas lighter than air such as helium, hydrogen, or hot air to generate lift.

 

While there is no clarity about why these balloons are being deployed, CNN quoted an expert as saying that these are either being used to shield the ship from reconnaissance drones or help get the ship upright.

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According to a retired US Navy captain, the area where the balloons are deployed could have suffered the most damage during the accident and "remains under intense stress while the forward area remains out of the water."

 

A South Korean pointed out to CNN: “It looks like what appear to be balloons have been installed not to refloat the ship, but to prevent the ship from further flooding."

 

Korean Central News Agency had reported that the warship had slid off the ramp and became stuck after the flatcar failed to move alongside it, throwing off its balance and crushing parts of the ship's bottom. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for the accident, which he dubbed a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism."

Defence