Kim Jong-un orders arrest of culprits after destroyer launch disaster

Three individuals have been arrested following the failed launch of North Korea’s new warship, an incident described by Kim Jong-un as the result of “criminal negligence,” according to state media outlet KNCA.

The failed launch occurred last week, as the North Korean leader oversaw the launch ceremony of the regime’s second modern destroyer, weighing over 5,000 tons, at the Chongjin port. However, the operation was reportedly botched, causing the vessel to suffer damage to its lower hull.

The blunder comes as Pyongyang accelerates efforts to modernize its naval fleet in response to perceived threats from the United States, which recently conducted joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan.

Moon Keun-sik, a naval expert and professor at Hanyang University in Seoul, argued that the mishap likely stemmed from North Korean workers’ lack of experience with ships of this size. The embarrassment was reportedly not well received by Kim Jong-un, who ordered the arrest of those responsible.

Despite the incident, KNCA reported that the damage was minor and that repairs would take only a short time.

(QG - Source: The Daily Star  — Picture : © Unsplash)