Egypt Daily News – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un harshly criticized his military and top officials on Wednesday after the country’s second naval destroyer suffered damage during a failed launch that Kim personally attended, according to state media reports released Thursday.
Kim has pushed for larger and more advanced warships, which he sees as necessary to counter what he describes as growing threats from the United States and its allies. The incident comes as North Korea continues its efforts to develop a stronger navy alongside its nuclear weapons program.
Failures involving military projects are rarely acknowledged in North Korean state media. Analysts believe that revealing this mishap may indicate how serious Kim is about expanding the country’s naval capabilities, and that he remains confident in achieving that goal.
The launch took place at the northeastern port of Chongjin. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the 5,000-ton-class destroyer became unbalanced and was damaged when a transport cradle under its stern slipped and became stuck. The vessel’s bottom sections were punctured in the process. KCNA did not explain what caused the incident, how severe the damage was, or if anyone was injured.
Kim, who was at the launch, reportedly blamed military officials, scientists, and shipbuilders for what he called a “serious accident and criminal act” caused by “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism.” He ordered a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party in late June to address the failures and hold those responsible accountable.
Moon Keun-sik, a naval expert and professor at Hanyang University in Seoul, said the fact that North Korea made the incident public is telling. “It’s a shameful event, but they’re showing that they’re moving quickly to modernize their navy and that they believe they can still build a more powerful fleet,” he said.
Moon added that the mishap likely happened because North Korean workers lacked experience with a vessel of this size and were rushed through the launch process.
The damaged destroyer is believed to be the same class as another warship revealed last month. That earlier vessel, named Choe Hyon after a Korean guerilla fighter, is thought to be North Korea’s largest and most sophisticated warship yet. Kim praised it as a strategic asset for expanding the reach of his navy and its nuclear strike capabilities.
The ship is designed to carry both ballistic and cruise missiles, possibly with nuclear capabilities. It is expected to begin active service early next year. Kim also supervised missile test launches from the vessel.
On Thursday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the damaged destroyer appears to be equipped with similar systems. Satellite images showed it tipped over in the sea near the dock, mostly submerged, with blue coverings draped over parts of it.
Earlier images suggested that North Korea had been building this second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin. The think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies said satellite photos from May 12 showed the new destroyer under construction.
Another analysis by the 38 North website noted that the launch method — sliding the vessel sideways off the quay — is rarely used in North Korea. The earlier Choe Hyon ship, by contrast, was launched using a floating dry dock in Nampo.
Some South Korean experts believe Russia may have assisted in building the new destroyer, as North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties in recent years. North Korea is reported to have supplied Russia with weapons and troops for the war in Ukraine.
Although North Korea’s navy remains much less advanced than those of South Korea, the United States, or Japan, the addition of guided missile destroyers could still improve its capabilities, especially if the ships are armed with advanced missile systems.
Kim has justified his military buildup as a response to the U.S.-South Korea joint military drills, which he views as threats. In April, U.S. B-1B bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula in joint exercises, shortly after Kim’s sister vowed to resist international efforts to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Kim has also stated that his next goal is to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine to further enhance his navy.
Just hours after announcing the destroyer accident, North Korea test-fired several cruise missiles from a location around 300 kilometers south of Chongjin. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches are under review by South Korean and U.S. intelligence.
