Latest news with #EastSea
Khaleej Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
'Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: State media
A major accident occurred at the launch ceremony for a new North Korean naval destroyer, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". At a ceremony to launch a new 5,000-ton vessel in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday "a serious accident occurred", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military said North Korea also fired "multiple unidentified cruise missiles" on Thursday, which were detected near the North's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. Blaming "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch — which was observed by Kim — KCNA said there was a mishap which left "some sections of the warship's bottom crushed". It said the accident managed to "destroy the balance of the warship". Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness", warning it "could not be tolerated". He said the "irresponsible errors" of officials responsible would be "dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed. "The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. The vessel is currently listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads — although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. Russian connection? The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help — possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel — including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched — was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." Strengthening the navy North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that "radically" boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a "radioactive tsunami", but analysts have questioned whether it actually has such a weapon. Washington — Seoul's key security ally — has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: state media
A major accident occurred at the launch ceremony for a new North Korean naval destroyer, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". At a ceremony to launch a new 5,000-ton vessel in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday "a serious accident occurred", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military said North Korea also fired "multiple unidentified cruise missiles" on Thursday, which were detected near the North's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. Blaming "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch -- which was observed by Kim -- KCNA said there was a mishap which left "some sections of the warship's bottom crushed". It said the accident managed to "destroy the balance of the warship". Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness", warning it "could not be tolerated". He said the "irresponsible errors" of officials responsible would be "dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed. "The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. The vessel is currently listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. - Russian connection? - The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel -- including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched -- was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." - Strengthening the navy - North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that "radically" boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a "radioactive tsunami", but analysts have questioned whether it actually has such a weapon. Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion. cdl/ceb/fox
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: state media
A major accident occurred at the launch ceremony for a new North Korean naval destroyer, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". At a ceremony to launch a new 5,000-ton vessel in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday "a serious accident occurred", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military said North Korea also fired "multiple unidentified cruise missiles" on Thursday, which were detected near the North's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. Blaming "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch -- which was observed by Kim -- KCNA said there was a mishap which left "some sections of the warship's bottom crushed". It said the accident managed to "destroy the balance of the warship". Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness", warning it "could not be tolerated". He said the "irresponsible errors" of officials responsible would be "dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed. "The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. The vessel is currently listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. - Russian connection? - The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel -- including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched -- was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." - Strengthening the navy - North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that "radically" boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a "radioactive tsunami", but analysts have questioned whether it actually has such a weapon. Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion. cdl/ceb/fox
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Serious' accident at North Korea warship launch: state media
A major accident occurred at the launch ceremony for a new North Korean naval destroyer, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un calling the mishap a "criminal act". At a ceremony to launch a new 5,000-ton vessel in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday "a serious accident occurred", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military said North Korea also fired "multiple unidentified cruise missiles" on Thursday, which were detected near the North's South Hamgyong province after being "fired toward the East Sea", also known as the Sea of Japan. Blaming "inexperienced command and operational carelessness" for the destroyer's botched launch -- which was observed by Kim -- KCNA said there was a mishap which left "some sections of the warship's bottom crushed". It said the accident managed to "destroy the balance of the warship". Kim watched the entire incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness", warning it "could not be tolerated". He said the "irresponsible errors" of officials responsible would be "dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month". South Korea's military said US and Seoul intelligence authorities assess that North Korea's "side-launch attempt" of the ship failed. "The side-launch method used in this case is no longer employed by South Korea's military," Lee Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters. The vessel is currently listing in the water, Lee said, and based on its size and scale, it is believed to be similarly equipped to the 5,000-ton destroyer-class warship Choe Hyon, which North Korea unveiled last month. Last month, Pyongyang's state media ran images of Kim attending a launching ceremony of Choe Hyon with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed the vessel was equipped with the "most powerful weapons", and that it would "enter into operation early next year". Some analysts said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads -- although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise its atomic arsenal. - Russian connection? - The South Korean military has said the Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help -- possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops to help Moscow fight Ukraine. Ahn Chan-il, a defector-turned-researcher who runs the World Institute for North Korea Studies, said the warship involved in Wednesday's accident may have also been constructed with Russian assistance. Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony was held, is close to Russia's Vladivostok port, he noted. "It's also likely that the projected timeline for the vessel -- including when assembly would be completed and the ship launched -- was shared with the Russian side," he told AFP. "It appears the dock was hastily constructed, and multiple issues may have arisen during the shipbuilding process. "With today's announcement, Pyongyang seems to be signalling not only to its own people, but also to the Russian side." - Strengthening the navy - North Korea confirmed in April for the first time that it had deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow in the Ukraine war. Moscow and Pyongyang recently announced that they had started building the first road bridge linking the two countries. North Korea also launched a flurry of ballistic missiles last year in violation of UN sanctions. In March, Kim inspected a project to build a nuclear-powered submarine, asserting that "radically" boosting the navy was a key part of Pyongyang's defensive strategy. Kim called at the time for the modernisation of the country's surface and underwater naval forces, including the development of warships. Pyongyang has previously claimed to be developing underwater nuclear attack drones, which could unleash a "radioactive tsunami", but analysts have questioned whether it actually has such a weapon. Washington -- Seoul's key security ally -- has in recent years ramped up joint military exercises and increased the presence of strategic US assets in the region to deter the North, such as an aircraft carrier and a nuclear-powered submarine. Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons state and routinely denounces joint US-South Korea drills as rehearsals for invasion. cdl/ceb/fox
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea launches flurry of short-range ballistic missiles
SEOUL, May 8 (UPI) -- North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between Korea and Japan on Thursday morning, Seoul's military said, in what officials characterized as a potential weapons test ahead of export to Russia. In a text message to reporters, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch of multiple short-range ballistic missiles of various types from the Wonsan area, on the peninsula's east coast, between 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. KST. The missiles flew roughly 500 miles before landing in the East Sea. "We have closely shared relevant information with the U.S. and Japan and are comprehensively analyzing the detailed specifications," the JCS said. "North Korea's missile launch is a blatant provocative act that seriously threatens the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and we strongly condemn it." The South Korean and U.S. militaries are maintaining a defense posture to "overwhelmingly respond to any provocation," the JCS added. At a briefing later in the morning, JCS spokesman Col. Lee Sung-jun did not specify the number of missiles launched, but said they were fired from mobile launchers and may have been modeled after the Russian Iskander system. He added that the weapons test was potentially connected to an arms export to Russia. "We are assessing that it may have been a performance check for some exports or an experiment to evaluate flight stability," Lee told reporters. The launch came one day after North Korean state media reported on a visit by leader Kim Jong Un to a munitions factory, where he called for workers to boost their output of artillery shells. Seoul and Washington say that North Korea has supplied missiles, artillery and soldiers to Russia for its war against Ukraine, while receiving much-needed financial support and advanced military technology in return. After denying its involvement for months, Pyongyang late last month acknowledged for the first time that it is sending troops to Russia. South Korean lawmakers, citing a briefing from Seoul's spy agency, said last week that around 600 North Korean troops have been killed and another 4,100 injured fighting for Russia on the frontlines of the Kursk region. Thursday's launch was the North's first in nearly two months. Pyongyang fired multiple close-range ballistic missiles on March 10, coinciding with the start of major U.S.-South Korea joint military drills.
