North Korea has detained officials from the Chongjin Shipyard following a failed missile launch that damaged a 5,00’ton naval destroyer, according to state media. The incident, which occurred at the northeastern port of Chongjin, appears to have taken place in front of a large audience, adding to the public embarrassment for Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The leader reportedly expressed outrage, calling the accident a ‘serious criminal act’ caused by ‘absolute carelessness and irresponsibility.’ Satellite imagery showed the warship lying on its side in the harbor, its hull partially crushed with the bow still on the launch slipway.
Kim Jong Un has ordered the ship to be restored before a ruling party meeting in June, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The leader’s anger was palpable after witnessing the failed launch, with state media describing the incident as an attack on the country’s dignity. The ship’s damage is believed to have occurred due to a failure of the flatcar guiding the vessel during the launch, which threw the warship off balance and caused parts of its hull to be crushed before the stern slid down the launch slipway into the water.
The failed launch comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with North Korea’s armed forces reportedly vowing to ‘thoroughly contain and control all sorts of military threats’ from ‘enemy countries,’ as cited by KCNA from the defense ministry’s policy chief. Kim’s regime has focused on expanding its military arsenal, which he views as a necessary response to Western aggression. The incident highlights the challenges faced by North Korea’s military-industrial complex, with the state media emphasizing the need for accountability and stricter oversight of its defense programs.