North Korea has lifted the capsized warship and moored it at a port in the northeast of the country for repairs, state news media reported.
"The team moored it at the dock in Kyung City on Thursday after the destroyer's balance was restored in early June," KCNA reported.
Friday's report is consistent with South Korea's military assessment and recent commercial satellite images that show that the 5,000-ton destroyer has returned to its upright position after a "serious accident" on May 21, when it suffered damage to the hull after it broke out from its transport cradle prematurely during its launch ceremony.
The side explosion of the ship failed, witnessed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who also partially covered the ship in the port.
King describes the incident as a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness." According to KCNA, four officials were arrested and charged with undermining North Korea's national dignity as part of an investigation into the accident.
Experts will now inspect the warship's hull for the next stage of restoration and take place at Larkin Shipyard over the next week to 10 days, KCNA said. The ship's complete restoration is expected to be completed at a meeting of the ruling party later this month.
Jo Chun Ryong, a senior official of the North Korean ruling Workers' Party, quoted KCNA as saying that “the perfect recovery of the destroyer will be completed without failure” before the deadline set by the country’s ruler Kim.
The damaged warship is the second known destroyer of North Korea and is regarded as a key asset for Kim to modernize his national navy.
According to its size and size estimates, the new warship is similarly equipped with the 5,000-ton destroyer-class ship, Choe Hyon, which North Korea also announced last month.
Pyongyang said Choe Hyon is equipped with "the most powerful weapon" and it will "begin operations early next year."
South Korean military said Johaus could have been developed with Russia's assistance, possibly in exchange for Pyongyang to deploy thousands of soldiers to help Moscow fight Ukraine.
Kim has modernized his army in response to U.S. and South Korea threats, major allies, and regularly conducts military exercises together.
The North Korean leader also said the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines would be the next step in strengthening his country's navy.
Kim met with Russian Security Council Secretary General Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang on Wednesday to take the latest signs that the ties between the countries deepened their ties, and when they signed a common defense agreement last June, they were obliged to use "All Manage" and if faced with "aggressiveness," they were obliged to provide immediate military aid to each other.
