According to KCNA, the state news agency of North Korea, Kim Jong Un labeled the incident as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.”
Reportedly, during the launch, Kim witnessed the damage inflicted upon the warship, with several sections of the ship’s bottom being crushed.
Kim has issued orders for the immediate repair of the destroyer before a significant meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee in late June.
Kim emphasized the importance of restoring the destroyer, stating it was not only a practical concern but also a political issue that directly impacted the authority of the state.
North Korea’s Largest Warships Yet
In the previous month, Pyongyang unveiled a 5,000-ton destroyer-class vessel, known as the “Choe Hyon-class.”
Kim, along with other officials, attended a test of the ship, during which supersonic and strategic cruise as well as anti-air missiles were launched.
It appears that the destroyer which was damaged is the second ship of the same class being constructed in the eastern port city of Chongjin.
According to a report last week, 38 North, a US-based organization, said that it seemed the ship would be side-launched from the quay, an uncommon method previously unseen in North Korea.
“The use of this launch method could be out of necessity, as the quay where the ship is being built lacks an incline,” stated the 38 North report.
Edited by: Dharvi Vaid
