After a failed launch of a North Korean destroyer, Kim Jong-un Expresses Rage
Those accountable for the failure, in which the ship’s hull was torn open and it ended up on its side in the water, will be treated as criminals, Kim promises.
Kim Jong-un, the head of North Korea, referred to the failed effort to launch its second navy destroyer in a month as a criminal act and threatened to punish those responsible, which was a major embarrassment for him.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency of the North, on Wednesday there was a “serious accident” when the country attempted to launch a new 5,000-ton destroyer in Chongjin, a port city on the northeast coast. As Mr. Kim looked on, the ship lost its balance when its stern slid down the launch slipway while its bow section was unable to exit the ramp, according to the statement. In addition, the incident ripped holes in the ship’s hull.
Photos from the location were not released by North Korea. Additionally, it didn’t say if any people were killed. After the unsuccessful launch, South Korean military authorities, who were utilizing satellite images to monitor the ship’s launch, reported on Thursday that the ship was lying on its side in the water.
The failed launch was especially upsetting for Mr. Kim, who has promoted his nation’s military expansion, including its increasing nuclear stockpile, as his greatest accomplishment. A major component of his plan has been the construction of additional warships to replace its aging Soviet-era fleet.
According to the North Korean news agency, Mr. Kim gave a harsh evaluation of the incident, calling it a criminal act brought about by carelessness, irresponsibility, and “unscientific empiricism” that should never have happened and cannot be accepted.
The officials responsible for the incident, which “lowered the dignity and self-respect” of his nation, were criticized by Mr. Kim, who cautioned that their mistakes would be addressed at the following month’s meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, according to the statement. He referred to the restoration of the destroyer by the June party meeting as a “political issue directly related to the prestige of the state” and issued the order.
In the past, North Korea has kept any incidents that might tarnish its leaders’ reputation a secret from the general population. However, under Mr. Kim, it has sometimes acknowledged its failures, including satellite launch failures, a building collapse, and significant damage caused by floods and typhoons. Mr. Kim has utilized such events to denounce authorities and consolidate his authority.
According to South Korean defense authorities, North Korea launched many cruise missiles from one of its eastern coastal provinces on Thursday, the same day that its state media announced the ship launch failure.
From Nampo, a port on North Korea’s west coast, Mr. Kim witnessed the successful April launch of a 5,000-ton destroyer. The largest vessel the North Korean navy has ever constructed. Later, he witnessed the launch of missiles from the vessel. According to South Korean experts, the ship seems to be built with Russian technology.
In order to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, North Korea has given Russia millions of artillery shells and other traditional weaponry. According to South Korean intelligence officials, it has also lost 4,700 soldiers, 600 of whom were killed, and sent about 15,000 troops to Russia. They claimed that in return, Russia was providing them with oil, military equipment, and other forms of assistance.
According to South Korean experts, the vessel the North attempted to launch off its east coast on Wednesday was a destroyer of the same type as the one it launched in April.
According to 38 North, a U.S.-based website that focuses on North Korean issues, it seemed as though the ship would be launched sideways from the quay, a technique that 38 North claimed has not been seen from North Korea before. The website published its report last week.
“It may be necessary to use this launch technique since the quay where the ship is being constructed does not have an inclination” to first move the ship stern into the water, it was stated. Commercial satellite images of the shipyard served as the basis for the website’s study.
By flooding water into a dry dock, the North launched its first destroyer last month, according to South Korean authorities.
