An official naval ceremony in North Korea took a dramatic turn when a new destroyer’s launch ended in disaster before the eyes of leader Kim Jong Un.
According to ABC News, Kim Jong Un called the incident a “serious accident” and branded it a “criminal act” rooted in carelessness and operational incompetence. The vessel—North Korea’s newest 5,000-ton warship—suffered significant damage after it became stuck on its launching sled and tipped during the unveiling at Cheongjin shipyard.
North Korean state media reported that the ship’s bottom was crushed and the balance destroyed, leaving the bow unable to clear the shipway. Kim Jong Un, present at the scene, delivered a scathing assessment and vowed that those responsible would be held accountable at a future Party Central Committee meeting.
Launch Failure Brings Fierce Criticism
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) detailed how the launch failure unfolded. The stern’s launching slide detached prematurely, while the flatcar carrying the destroyer did not move in parallel as required. This mishap stranded the ship, causing the accident and resulting in structural damage. The warship, which reportedly represents a major step in North Korea’s naval modernization, was rendered inoperable before it even entered the water.
KCNA anchor Ri Chun-hee, a trusted voice in North Korean broadcasting, directly attributed blame to “inexperienced command and operational carelessness.” She explained that errors in coordination during the launch sequence led to the warship’s bottom being crushed, which destabilized the vessel. This, in turn, prevented the bow from leaving the shipway.
Kim Jong Un’s reaction was immediate and severe. He “sternly warned” multiple government and academic bodies, including the Department of Munitions Industry, the Institute of Dynamics of the State Academy of Sciences, Kim Chaek University of Technology, and the Central Ship Design Institute. These warnings signaled a rare public rebuke of technical and institutional failings within his regime’s prized military projects.
Kim Jong Un’s Response and Warnings
Kim Jong Un issued a harsh response to the incident, calling it a serious and unacceptable event. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), he blamed the crash on what he described as gross negligence, irresponsibility, and reliance on unscientific methods. He also stated that disciplinary measures would be taken against those responsible.
Those implicated include not only the engineers and launch operators but also the leadership of several state institutions. Kim’s directive to deal with the responsible parties at an upcoming Party Central Committee meeting suggests that consequences could be both swift and severe. In North Korea, such disciplinary measures often serve as a warning to others, reinforcing the expectation of strict compliance in sensitive national projects.
While Kim’s condemnation was unequivocal, he also signaled the importance he placed on naval advancement. The failed ship is the second destroyer in North Korea’s new class of warships, following the unveiling of the Choe Hyon in April. During that earlier launch, Kim had described the program as a “breakthrough” for the country’s military capabilities.
Broader Implications and Criticism
The failed launch comes amid ongoing efforts by North Korea to modernize its armed forces, particularly its navy. Kim has publicly declared an intention to build a “blue-water operational fleet” capable of operating in open ocean far from Korean shores. Experts note that such ambitions mark a significant shift from North Korea’s historically coastal naval posture.
However, the launch disaster has underscored persistent technological and organizational challenges. Critics, both within and outside North Korea, point to the regime’s reliance on untested engineering and authoritarian project management as contributing factors. The incident has also drawn attention from South Korea, whose military reported that North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles into the East Sea after the accident, possibly as a show of strength.
Kim’s handling of the crisis—publicly shaming institutions and threatening punishment—has drawn mixed reactions. Some argue that his willingness to assign blame is intended to demonstrate control and instill discipline. Others see it as evidence of deep-seated problems in North Korea’s approach to complex scientific and military undertakings.
Kim Jong Un’s Public Condemnation and Next Steps
Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, was present at the Cheongjin shipyard in the northeast of the country when his regime’s newest warship tipped and suffered significant damage during a failed launch. The incident, which he described as a “criminal act” resulting from carelessness and irresponsibility, led him to warn several government and academic institutions that those responsible would be “dealt with” at an upcoming Party Central Committee meeting.
The North Korean government’s response, characterized by public criticism and promises of disciplinary action, has drawn attention both domestically and internationally. The failed launch has cast doubt on the country’s ambitious naval modernization plans and raised concerns about the effectiveness of its engineering and oversight.
As disciplinary measures loom and questions persist about the future of North Korea’s naval projects, the accident at Cheongjin stands as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Kim Jong Un’s quest for military advancement.
