In the wake of a problematic launch involving its second naval destroyer, North Korea has initiated measures to apprehend those deemed responsible for the mishap. The regime, asserting that the warship incurred no grave damage, faced skepticism from various external sources. The official statement followed leader Kim Jong Un’s vehement reaction, labeling the incident a result of criminal negligence. North Korea’s principal military committee declared those accountable will face serious repercussions for their “unpardonable criminal act.”
Satellite captures showed the vessel partially submerged, covered in blue sheeting, and capsized. Despite North Korea’s belief that repairs would take approximately ten days, outside experts remained doubtful, considering the visible extent of the damage seemed more severe. The opaque nature of North Korea, alongside its tendency to mask military and policy setbacks, complicates any independent verification of the state’s claims.
According to North Korean state media releases, the damage inflicted upon the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was “not serious.” Contradicting earlier assertions about the hull’s condition, they reported superficial scratches on the starboard side with minor seawater ingress. They anticipate the remedial process involving seawater extraction and surface patchwork will be concluded within ten days.
Lee Illwoo, affiliated with the Korea Defense Network, suggested the damage was considerably worse, potentially involving the engine room’s flooding and perforations in the hull. He cited that while North Korea might feasibly reposition and repaint the ship to create an illusion of completion, significant repairs, especially engine-related, could extend over a year, likely necessitating hull alterations.
The malfunction reportedly stemmed from a failed transport cradle detachment during a launch ceremony at the Chongjin port. Moon Keun-sik from Hanyang University attributes the failure to potential unfamiliarity with managing larger naval vessels, exceeding existing fleet sizes. Observers noted an unprecedented attempt to launch the warship sideways, a technique reserved for larger non-military ships. Such an approach raised concerns over balance difficulties due to the ship’s armament and its subsequent destabilization.
North Korea previously heralded its first destroyer, representing its most advanced maritime vessel, as a milestone for modern naval enhancement against perceived U.S.-aligned threats. Kim Jong Un celebrated its construction success via a floating dry dock, unlike the subsequent failure that now stands as a notable embarrassment. By addressing the internal and external media coverage, Kim might be signaling his unwavering intent to elevate naval capabilities while enforcing domestic order. He mandated ship restoration before a significant Workers’ Party assembly in June.
Reports from the Korean Central News Agency announced an investigation spearheaded by prosecutors and subject matter experts to unearth the negligence within the Chongjin shipyard. Hong Kil Ho, managing the shipyard, is reportedly being interrogated amid encompassing probes. In a directive quoted by KCNA, the Central Military Commission maintained that, regardless of the ship’s condition, the offense constitutes a grave criminal act, warranting absolute accountability.
Kim Dong-yub from the University of North Korean Studies remarked that the incident could potentially bolster the ruling party’s influence over scientific and technological developments. Meanwhile, Lee Choon Geun from the Science and Technology Policy Institute in South Korea warned of possible repercussions for its defense science field. He expressed that scrutinizing scientists harshly might suggest a detrimental precedence of political over technical responsibility, potentially hindering scientific progression in North Korea’s defense sector.