North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has fiercely condemned a “serious accident during the launch of a newly unveiled 5,000-ton destroyer, calling it a “criminal act that tarnished the nation’s dignity and pride “in an instant.
According to state media, parts of the warship’s bottom were crushed during Thursday’s launch at a shipyard in the eastern port city of Chongjin, causing the vessel to tilt off balance. Kim, who witnessed the event in person, was visibly angered and has ordered an urgent restoration of the ship before a key ruling party meeting in June.
The North Korean leader pointed to “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism” as the causes of the launch failure. He blamed the design and construction teams, stating that those responsible would face consequences at next month’s Workers’ Party plenary session.
Though no injuries or fatalities were reported, the severity of Kim’s response underlines the importance the regime had placed on the warship. The destroyer had been hailed as a major milestone in North Korea’s naval modernization efforts and was expected to be deployed early next year.
Kim referred to the incident as an “unpardonable” failure and demanded accountability, signaling possible disciplinary or punitive measures for engineers and officials involved. The country’s opaque legal system and brutal reputation for suppressing dissent raise concerns about the fates of those held responsible.
Public disclosures of technical or operational failures are rare in North Korea, where image and propaganda are tightly controlled. However, the regime has recently shown a slightly more transparent approach when dealing with major blunders in its military-industrial complex.
This isn’t the first time Kim has made high-profile rebukes. In November 2023, he condemned the failed launch of a military satellite as a “gravest failure.” Earlier that same year, another failed satellite mission was blamed on emergency system flaws, though authorities downplayed its significance at the time.
The damaged warship was part of a newly launched class of destroyers intended to enhance the North’s maritime military capability. Just weeks ago, a similar vessel had been presented on the country’s west coast, allegedly capable of carrying more than 70 missiles.
Kim previously called the class a “breakthrough” in strengthening naval defenses amid escalating regional tensions and a growing arms race with South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The botched launch, therefore, represents a significant setback both militarily and symbolically.
The incident may also fuel internal scrutiny within North Korea’s military industrial sectors, as Kim intensifies pressure on state projects to deliver results amid growing economic challenges and international sanctions.
With Kim promising repercussions and demanding immediate repairs, all eyes will be on the upcoming party meeting where the fallout from this embarrassing debacle will likely continue to unfold.
This failure, while exposing weaknesses in North Korea’s military infrastructure, also reveals the regime’s struggle to balance ambition with competence as it seeks to project strength on both land and sea.
