Rudolph Angler North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un sharply condemned the recent failure of a warship launch, calling it “a criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.” The incident happened last week at Chongjin port, where Kim personally witnessed the 5,000-tonne destroyer lose balance and topple over. Satellite images later showed the ship covered with blue tarps, partly submerged in water.
Kim immediately blamed military officers, engineers, and shipyard workers for the disaster. He accused them of irresponsibility, unscientific work, and reckless oversight. This rare public criticism highlights how seriously Kim takes his naval modernization goals. The failed launch is seen as a major setback to North Korea’s efforts to build a modern navy capable of countering threats from the U.S. and its regional allies.
Following the incident, North Korean authorities arrested four officials in connection with the naval failure. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the detention of Ri Hyong-son, deputy director of the Workers’ Party munitions department, holding him “greatly responsible” for the collapse. Also arrested were the ship’s chief engineer, hull construction manager, and deputy administrative chief. The shipyard director was summoned for further questioning. Public punishment of military failures is extremely rare in North Korea, making these arrests highly unusual.
Despite Kim’s anger and the arrests, state media minimized the damage, claiming the ship suffered no major harm. Officials stated that repairs would take only ten days. However, experts remain doubtful about this quick recovery. The failed launch came just weeks after North Korea unveiled its first destroyer, the Choe Hyon, which Kim praised as a “breakthrough” for the navy. Reports say the Choe Hyon can carry modern weapons, including nuclear missiles, raising concerns in the region.
South Korean officials suspect that Russia supported North Korea in developing this vessel. Kim uses such military shows to boost his image at home and signal strength to Western countries. This latest failure, however, challenges those efforts and reveals internal struggles in North Korea’s push for military modernization.
This incident reflects the growing pressure on the regime to strengthen its military while managing high risks. The arrests signal a crackdown on those seen as responsible for setbacks in the country’s strategic defense plans. The story is still unfolding, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.