N. Korea relaunches warship after mishap, Seoul notes lack of anti-South rhetoric

Across the border.

North Korea says it has successfully re-launched a destroyer following a failed debut in late May.

Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil covers the latest launch and the response from South Korea.

North Korea has re-launched a 5,000-ton warship, just three weeks after it partially capsized during a failed debut.

Leader Kim Jong-un, joined by his daughter Ju-ae, attended Thursday's second launch ceremony in the Rajin shipyard.

The destroyer, named 'Kang Kon' after an anti-Japanese resistance figure, rolled out again following swift repairs.

At a Friday briefing, South Korea's unification ministry gave this assessment:

"This looks like an effort to show off the ship's repair ahead of this month's party plenary, and to reclaim the regime's prestige following last month's capsizing incident."

The ministry also noted there was no mention of South Korea, its military, or the ROK-U.S. alliance this time.

During April's separate destroyer launch, Kim Jong-un repeatedly slammed Seoul and Washington, accusing them of stoking tensions.

"We're closely noting the absence of any reference to South Korea, especially given that Chairman Kim mentioned the South nine times during the April launch of the Choe Hyon destroyer."

State media touted the ship's ability to "raise naval operations to a strategic level," language experts say signals plans to expand its range and possibly arm it with nuclear-capable missiles.

Others say the shift points to a more targeted message.

"The Choe Hyon destroyer operates in the West Sea so the message was targeted at South Korea. Kang Kon, meanwhile, likely sends a stronger signal to the U.S. as it's operating in the East Sea and Pacific."

North Korea says it plans to commission two destroyers a year, an ambitious pace that, if met, could reshape its naval power over the next decade.

But with Pyongyang claiming to have built two in under 18 months, experts are questioning just how capable these warships really are.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.