Kim Jong-un blasts ‘grave accident' after watching botched warship launch

Korea Herald

22-05-2025

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un publicly condemned the botched launch of a new naval destroyer — which he witnessed firsthand — as a 'grave and significant accident' amounting to a 'criminal act.' South Korea's military later confirmed that Pyongyang had failed to slide the warship into the water during its launch attempt on Thursday.
North Korea — in a rare display of transparency — swiftly reported the failed launch of a new 5,000-ton-class destroyer at the Chongjin Shipyard in North Hamgyong Province on Wednesday through both internal and external-oriented state media on Thursday.
Kim issued blistering criticism and a stern warning after witnessing the entire accident, according to the Korean-language report carried on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, the country's most widely circulated newspaper.
"Comrade Kim Jong-un delivered a grave assessment, saying that this was a grave and significant accident — utterly inconceivable and absolutely unacceptable — caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism, and that it constitutes a criminal act," the state media report read.
State media notably delineated the causes of the failure involving the slipway method used to launch the destroyer, in which a ship is side-launched from the quay — a technique not previously seen in North Korea.
In summary, the accident occurred due to "inexperienced command and careless handling during the launch process," which failed to keep the movement of the launch sleds — the structures that slide the warship into the water — properly balanced, according to the report.
As a result, the sled under the stern detached first and ran aground, puncturing part of the ship's bottom and throwing the vessel off balance. The bow section of the warship was left stuck on the slipway, the report added.
However, North Korean state media has not yet shared any photos or video of the failed warship launch as of 3 p.m. on Thursday.
Kim also ordered that the restoration of the destroyer "must be unconditionally completed" before the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee in late June, which state media concurrently announced on Thursday would be convened.
"Comrade Kim Jong-un sternly warned and pressed accountability, stating that the irresponsible mistakes of the relevant units ... and the officials at the Chongjin Shipyard cannot but be dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month," according to the state media report.
Col. Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that the destroyer is "tilted and resting on its side in the water."
"South Korean and US intelligence authorities had been tracking and monitoring signs of a large warship launch at North Korea's Chongjin Port in advance, and we have assessed that the sideways launch failed," Lee said at Thursday's regular press briefing.
Lee explained that the warship is believed to be equipped with capabilities similar to the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer, which was launched in late April, based on its size and scale.
A senior official at the Unification Ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Thursday that North Korea's disclosure of the debacle "seems aimed at tightening internal discipline through strict accountability for the negligence that caused it."
"The process of launching a ship itself is not considered to involve particularly advanced or difficult technology. As stated in today's media report, it was described as a case of sheer carelessness," the official further explained.
This is not the first time the Kim Jong-un regime has disclosed failures in military projects, including three failed attempts to launch military reconnaissance satellites in 2023 and 2024, as well as setbacks in economic projects.
Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said North Korea's disclosure of the failed warship launch serves a dual purpose: sending a message both to its domestic audience and to the international community.
"Internally, this may be intended to demonstrate transparency and to highlight a culture of accountability," Lim said.
"It also aims to reinforce (Kim's) authority within the system and serves as a message signaling a hardline stance that no mistakes will be tolerated," Lim added, further explaining that the disclosure is intended to create a sense of urgency and heighten tension among relevant organizations and personnel.
Lim pointed out that the Kim regime's divulgence "seems to demonstrate transparency in the process of developing military capabilities externally," in addition to its bid to project an image of uninterrupted military technological development.
"At the same time, by disclosing the failure, the regime seeks to emphasize the need for internal reform or aims to showcase the resilience and competence of the system through a successful recovery later," Lim explained.