A HALF-sunk North Korean warship which bungled its first launch in front of Kim Jong-un has been hauled upright using giant balloons.

The cause of the humiliating fail has also been revealed – amid fears the regime will execute those it holds responsible.

The 5,000-tonne naval destroyer ended up on its side after the pompous launch ceremony watched by Kim went disastrously wrong.

Kim slammed the “criminal act” caused by “absolute carelessness” in a rare admission of failure – and arrested four officials.

Satellite pictures later revealed the huge warship floundering on its side beside the launch dock, with the stern partially sunk and its bow lying on the harbour jetty.

Kim gave orders to right the vessel as quickly as possible – and now details of the farcical rescue mission have emerged.

Pictures from May 29 show workers standing on the quay pulling ropes attached to the boat.

And at least 30 balloons appeared to have been connected along one side – presumably to haul it upright.

On launch day, crews had attempted to slide the ship sideways into the water.

A malfunction meant that the stern entered while the bow remained on the launch gear.

It is likely that the launch mechanism snagged the bow, preventing it from plopping into the sea, reports 38north.

This theory is supported by satellite imagery from May 29, which seems to show damage to the bow.

North Korea’s state broadcaster also reported that sections of the hull had been crushed.

The highly-secretive authorities appeared to have tried to hide the disaster by placing blue tarpaulin across the wreck.

But analysis from South Korea’s military shows that it was lying on its side.

To be fixed up, the destroyer will first need to be refloated and then transferred to a graving dock, where ships are repaired.

The dictator demanded that the repairs be completed by the end of June – though that may be optimistic.

Kim was seething in the wake of the embarrassment, and said it brought shame on the country.

The four arrested include chief engineer Kang Jong Chol, hull workshop head Han Kyong Hak, and deputy manager Kim Yong Hak.

It’s unclear what punishment they will face, though an expert told The Sun their fates could be fatal.

Michael Madden, founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, said: “Some people will lose their party memberships and be sent to jail for short sentences.”

But, more alarmingly, he claimed “some people are going to be shot to death behind this”.

The launch failure marks a huge setback for Kim, who has been modernizing his navy to keep up with the West.

Last month, the tyrant unveiled North Korea’s largest naval destroyer yet that could house a vertical launchpad capable of firing nuclear missiles.

Dubbed the Choe Hyon, it is believed to be the same 5,000-tonne class ship as the one which spectacularly failed on Wednesday.

North Korea’s state media – which also serves as Kim’s leading propaganda machine – reported that the vessel was equipped with the “most powerful weapons”.

The ship is named after anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Choe Hyon, the report said.

When upright and operational, the destroyer is set to become the largest in North Korea’s naval arsenal, surpassing the current largest vessel, a 1,360-tonne frigate.