North Korean leader Kim Jong-un strongly criticized the failed launch of a 5,000-ton warship, calling it a criminal act caused by absolute carelessness. The incident happened on Wednesday in the port city of Chongjin, where the destroyer capsized while being launched. Kim witnessed the failure in person and immediately blamed those involved in the project, including military leaders, engineers, and shipyard workers.
Images taken from satellites showed the warship lying on its side. Parts of the ship were underwater and others were covered in blue tarps. The scene made clear that something had gone seriously wrong. According to North Korean state media, Kim was angry and expressed deep disappointment. He said the failure showed irresponsibility, lack of proper skills, and the use of unscientific methods.
The North Korean government acted quickly. State media reported that four senior officials were arrested. Among them was Ri Hyong-son, a top figure in the munitions industry department. He was named as one of the people mainly responsible for the failed launch. Others arrested included the ship’s chief engineer, the head of hull construction, and the administrative deputy manager. The director of the shipyard was also brought in for questioning. These public arrests are rare in North Korea, especially in relation to military projects.
Kim’s strong reaction and the arrests show how serious the regime is about its naval development goals. North Korea usually hides military failures, so this open handling of the event is unusual. Analysts believe the incident is a major setback for Kim’s goal to modernize the country’s navy. He sees naval power as an important part of national defense and a way to respond to pressure from the United States and its allies.
Despite the visible damage, North Korean officials claimed the warship did not suffer serious harm. They said repairs would take only ten days. Outside experts do not agree. Many say it is unlikely that such a large and heavy ship can be repaired so quickly. Some defense analysts said the damage could take months to fix or even make the ship unusable.
The failed launch came shortly after North Korea introduced its first modern destroyer. That ship, believed to be named Choe Hyon, was described by Kim as a major achievement. The vessel is said to carry modern weapons, including missiles that could be equipped with nuclear warheads. South Korea suspects that Russia may have provided help in completing the ship. The new destroyer is part of a larger plan to build a strong navy capable of standing up to threats from abroad.
Kim has focused more on naval strength in recent months. North Korea has been building warships and submarines, and testing missiles that can be launched from sea. This is part of a broader effort to improve military power in response to growing cooperation between South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The failed ship launch is a serious blow to those plans.
The event also shows possible problems in North Korea’s military system. Experts say poor planning, old technology, and weak coordination between teams may have caused the mistake. In a system where mistakes are often hidden, problems can grow bigger over time. Kim’s reaction may show that he is losing patience with delays and repeated errors.
Neighboring countries are watching closely. South Korea and the United States are monitoring the situation and may increase their own military readiness. There are also concerns that North Korea could respond to the failure by showing more aggression to divert attention from its mistakes. China, North Korea’s biggest trading partner and political ally, has not commented publicly, but is likely paying attention to the developments.
This incident offers a rare look into the internal issues North Korea faces when trying to improve its military. The public reaction from Kim, the arrests, and the failed launch together suggest that even the most secretive regimes face limits. Although North Korea wants to project power, this event has revealed weak spots in its ability to deliver high-quality military technology.