In a rare public acknowledgment, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un vowed to punish those responsible for the failed launch of the nation’s second navy destroyer and called the incident a criminal act. North Korean media reported that the “serious accident” involving a new 5,000-ton destroyer happened on Wednesday, May 21, along the country’s northeastern coast.
The incident reportedly unfolded while Kim and a large crowd watched the event. The vessel crashed after it lost balance and slid down a “slipway” where it was being launched.
The country’s Korean Central News Agency reported on Thursday, May 22, that the accident tore holes in the bottom of the ship. However, the extent of the damage was not disclosed, nor were any potential casualties.
North Korea still keeps some secrets
North Korea did not publicly release any pictures of the maritime crash, but South Korea’s military officials said on Thursday that the destroyer was lying on its side in the sea after the accident. South Korean military experts noted that the ship North Korea attempted to launch on Wednesday appears to be of the same type as a destroyer successfully launched in April.
Experts also said the second destroyer appeared to be launched “sideways” because of minimal space and because the shipyard lacks a proper incline, according to determinations based on satellite imagery from the launch site. According to analysts, this is the first time North Korea has used this launch method.
Kim said that his navy’s recent maritime accident is the result of a criminal act of “carelessness” that should never have happened, and it will not be tolerated. The New York Times reported that the North Korean leader “censured” those considered responsible for the crash and said their punishment would be determined at “a ruling Workers’ Party meeting” in June. Kim demanded the destroyer be fixed by the meeting, declaring the incident “a political issue directly related to the prestige of the state.”
Rare acknowledgments
Pyongyang has typically been secretive about any mistakes or failures that may harm the nation’s image globally. Under the Kim regime, however, North Korea has at times publicly acknowledged mistakes, such as satellite launch failures, an apartment building collapse and damage from natural disasters. Kim reportedly makes the failures public to humiliate officials and maintain his control over the country’s levers of power.
The failed launch is a significant setback for Kim, who has bragged about his nation’s military capabilities, particularly his navy and the North’s nuclear arsenal.
Kim has promised to build more warships as his Soviet-era fleet is obsolete. He recently unveiled the nation’s first 5,000-ton destroyer in April. That ship is reportedly the largest naval ship the North has ever built. South Korean officials said that the destroyer was launched by filling up a dock with water.
Following the launch, Kim watched missiles fired from the destroyer. South Korean military experts said the missiles launched from the ship appeared to be built with the help of Russia. Pyongyang has sent millions of rounds of ammunition and weapons to Russia to aid Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine, including deploying thousands of troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
