North Korea’s attempt to launch a new 5,000-ton navy destroyer ended in failure, with leader Kim Jong-un reportedly furious over the incident, calling it a “criminal act” that would not be tolerated.
The warship, scheduled for launch on Wednesday in the eastern port of Chongjin, suffered a major mishap when the stern prematurely slid into the water during the ceremony, causing parts of the vessel’s underside to become damaged, according to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Jong-un was present at the time.
KCNA blamed the accident on “inexperienced command and operational carelessness,” saying the mishap destroyed the vessel’s balance. Kim condemned the incident as a result of “absolute carelessness and irresponsibility,” claiming it had damaged the nation’s dignity and prestige. He vowed the issue would be addressed at an upcoming Workers’ Party meeting and demanded the ship be repaired beforehand, emphasizing the matter’s political significance.
Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the Chongjin shipyard, was reportedly summoned by law enforcement the following day.
South Korea’s military said intelligence assessments by both Seoul and the U.S. concluded the side-launch method used was outdated and contributed to the failure. Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-jun noted that South Korea no longer uses this technique.
Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies showed the vessel tilted on its side, with the stern in the water and the bow grounded.
While KCNA initially reported serious damage, a follow-up report downplayed the severity, stating that inspections showed only scratches on the starboard side and some water ingress through a rescue channel. Experts estimated it would take up to three days to stabilize the warship and about ten days to fully restore its side.
This failure follows the unveiling of another destroyer, the Choe Hyon, in April. North Korea claimed it was equipped with advanced weaponry and slated for operational deployment next year. South Korean officials suspect the Choe Hyon may have been developed with Russian assistance, potentially in exchange for North Korea sending troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war.
Analyst Ahn Chan-il, a North Korean defector and head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies, suggested the failed vessel may also have been constructed with Russian involvement, noting the launch site’s proximity to Russia’s Vladivostok port. He said the shipyard infrastructure may have been hastily assembled, contributing to technical issues.
In April, North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had deployed troops to assist Russia, and Pyongyang and Moscow recently began building a road bridge linking the two countries.
Meanwhile, North Korea continues to push forward its naval ambitions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine and emphasized the need to modernize both surface and underwater naval forces. The regime has also claimed to be developing nuclear-armed underwater drones capable of creating a “radioactive tsunami,” though experts remain skeptical of such capabilities.
The U.S., a key ally of South Korea, has increased its military presence in the region in recent years, including deployments of aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines, to deter Pyongyang. North Korea, which considers itself an “irreversible” nuclear power, regularly denounces U.S.–South Korea military drills as preparation for invasion.
