North Korea’s second naval destroyer was damaged in its failed launch to the water this week, state media reported on Thursday, in a humiliation for chief Kim Jong-un as he pushes to modernise his naval forces.
It’s not frequent for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, however observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch means that Mr. Kim is severe about his naval development program and assured of finally reaching its aims.
During a launching occasion at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday (May 21, 2025), the newly constructed 5,000-ton-class destroyer turned unbalanced and was punctured in its backside sections after a transport cradle on the strict part slid off first and have become caught, based on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
KCNA did not present particulars on what triggered the issue, the severity of the harm or whether or not anybody was injured.
According to KCNA, Mr. Kim, who was current at the ceremony, blamed navy officers, scientists, and shipyard operators for a ‘serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism’. Mr. Kim referred to as for a ruling Workers’ Party assembly slated for late June to handle their ‘irresponsible errors’.
“It’s a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it’s speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build a greater navy,” stated Moon Keun-sik, a navy professional who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University.
Mr. Moon suspected the incident seemingly occurred as a result of North Korean staff aren’t but acquainted with such a massive warship and have been rushed to place it in the water.
The damaged vessel was seemingly in the identical class because the nation’s first destroyer, unveiled April 25, which specialists assessed because the North’s largest and most superior warship so far. Mr. Kim referred to as the primary vessel, named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerilla fighter through the Japanese colonial interval — a vital asset for advancing his objective of increasing the navy’s operational vary and nuclear strike capabilities.
State media described that ship as designed to deal with varied weapons programs, together with anti-air and anti-ship weapons in addition to nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Mr. Kim stated, “The ship was expected to enter active duty early next year, and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship”.
Lee Sung-joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on Thursday (May 22, 025) “the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea”.
The North Korean report got here after current industrial satellite tv for pc photos indicated that the nation was constructing its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin.
Beyond Parallel, a web site run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies suppose tank, stated “the satellite imagery of Chongjin’s Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction”.
A report by the North Korea-focused 38 North web site assessed final week that the destroyer constructed at the Chongjin shipyard was being ready to be launched sideways from the marina, a technique that has been hardly ever used in North Korea. The report stated the earlier destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo, in distinction, used a floating dry dock.
South Korean officers and specialists say “the Choe Hyon destroyer was seemingly constructed with Russian help as the 2 international locations’ navy partnerships are booming. While North Korea’s naval forces are thought-about inferior to South Korea’s, analysts nonetheless view the destroyer as a severe safety menace, because it might improve the nation’s offensive and defensive capabilities.
Mr. Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and its allies in Asia, who’ve been increasing joint navy workout routines amid rising tensions over the North’s nuclear programme. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine can be his subsequent large step in strengthening his Navy.
Hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North Korea fired a number of cruise missiles from an space close to the northeastern city of Sondok, based on South Korea’s navy. The launches have been a continuation of a streak of weapons-testing actions by North Korea in current years. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not instantly say how far the missiles flew, noting the launches have been being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.
Published – May 22, 2025 01:30 pm IST
