SEOUL, May 23 – North Korea’s latest naval destroyer was severely damaged during a failed launch ceremony on Wednesday, prompting leader Kim Jong Un to denounce the incident as a “criminal act” and vowing punishment for those responsible, state media said.
In a rare public admission of failure, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that a malfunction during the launch process caused the 5,000-ton warship’s stern to slide prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the slipway.
South Korean military officials said the ship, which remains unnamed, was observed lying on its side in the water. “The stresses from the improper launch could be catastrophic,” Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-joon said at a briefing.
Kim, who attended the ceremony, blamed multiple institutions for the failure, including the Munitions Industry Department, Kim Chaek University of Technology, and the central ship design bureau. He called the mishap an act of “absolute carelessness” and “irresponsibility,” according to KCNA.
Naval experts say the damage could render the vessel irreparable. “The hull could be warped or even cracked, possibly snapping the keel,” said Carl Schuster, a naval analyst and former U.S. Navy officer.
The destroyer was reportedly similar in design to the Choe Hyon, a new-generation warship unveiled in April as part of North Korea’s effort to modernise its aging Soviet-era fleet. Satellite imagery has indicated design parallels with Russian naval platforms.
Kim has ordered the destroyer to be restored before a late June plenary session of the ruling Workers’ Party, calling the repair effort a matter of “national honour.” However, analysts say the timeline is unrealistic due to North Korea’s limited shipyard infrastructure.
