North Korea has launched a 5,000-ton destroyer at the second try, state media reported on Friday, after the warship was damaged during an earlier botched attempt that had left it capsized in the water.

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to keep building a more modern navy fleet to enhance the country's maritime power as he attended the launching ceremony for a warship that was repaired after its earlier failed launch,

North Korea has successfully relaunched its second destroyer after the vessel was damaged during a failed launch in May. Leader Kim Jong-un, speaking a day before the second ceremony, pledged to build two new warships each year to counter perceived external threats.