26-05-2025
North Korea detains four officials over naval destroyer debacle
North Korean authorities have detained four officials after the launch of a naval destroyer ended in failure last week, its state media reported, in a debacle that the country's dictator Kim Jong-un said was caused by 'criminal negligence'.
Kim, who attended the event on Wednesday in the northeastern port of Chongjin, was said to be furious after the launch of the pariah state's second naval destroyer was marred by an accident and lost its balance.
Satellite imagery showed the vessel toppled over and draped in blue covers, with parts of the warship submerged.
It is unusual for Pyongyang to acknowledge military-related setbacks and publicly punish officials over them, with analysts saying it reflects how serious Kim is about North Korea's naval modernisation.
Soon after the embarrassing incident, Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for the botched launch, labelling it a 'criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism'.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that authorities detained Ri Hyong-son, vice director of the munitions industry department at the ruling Workers Party's Central Committee, who said it was 'greatly responsible' for the failed launch.
Three other officials – the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop and deputy manager for administrative affairs – were also detained, it reported, while the shipyard manager was called in for questioning.
Wednesday's incident followed the successful launch of North Korea's first naval destroyer last month, with Kim hailing its construction 'a breakthrough' in modernising North Korea's navy.
State media reported that the ship – the country's most advanced – is designed to carry modern weapons including nuclear missiles.
South Korean officials said the warship, named the Choe Hyon, was likely built with the aid of Russia. Kim has presented his efforts to develop Pyongyang's military capabilities as crucial in repelling perceived threats from the US and its regional allies.
Despite publicly detaining officials and Kim's outraged reaction to last week's incident, North Korea denied the second destroyer suffered major damage and claimed on Friday that it would require 10 days to be repaired, though commentators said it was likely to be downplaying the damage.
Korea Foundation Fellow at Chatham House's Asia-Pacific Programme Dr Edward Howell told Euronews that the high number of officials detained highlights that 'this is an extremely embarrassing incident from Kim Jong-un'.
Howell, who is also a lecturer in International Relations at the University of Oxford, said that while the regime has at times admitted to making mistakes before, Kim's insistence that the destroyer could be repaired within 10 days was intended as a demonstration of the country's ability 'to rebound quickly'.
'Despite the embarrassing incident, North Korea has no intention of turning back on its naval or military modernisation," he said. "This is part and parcel of Kim Jong-un's desire for greater status and prestige.'
The launch of the destroyer was significant due to its missile capabilities, he said, noting that like the Choe Hyon launched in April, it is equipped with systems able to launch surface-to-air and cruise missiles.
'This, for me, is very important because it highlights how these warships are part and parcel of not only modernising North Korea's navy, but also, what Kim Jong Un's ultimate goal is: for North Korea to be recognised as a de facto nuclear armed state," Howell said.
'North Korea has always wanted to be recognised as a de facto nuclear armed state, so it can try to convince the rest of the world, particularly the US, to conclude a peace treaty to end the Korean War."
Howell added that this would be 'disastrous for regional security'.
'Because if North Korea signed a peace treaty with South Korea, the rationale for the 28,500 US troops in South Korea would go out the window," he explained.
'The nuclear ambitions are inextricably linked with Kim's desire for regime survival, but also to his desire for North Korea to be seen as an equal power, of equal status, to the United States," Howell said. "The development of these warships is intertwined with this nuclear recognition.'
