Seoul, South Korea (AP) – North Korea’s second Navy destroyer encountered difficulties during a water launch this week, leading to damage, according to state media reports on Thursday, causing embarrassment for Kim Jong-un as he pushes for modernization of his naval fleet.
Though it is uncommon for North Korea to acknowledge military-related issues, analysts suggest that this admission signifies Kim’s commitment to his naval development ambitions and his confidence in ultimately fulfilling this objective.
During a launch event at the port of Chongjin on Wednesday, the newly built 5,000-ton destroyer became unbalanced, sustaining damage to its hull due to the transport cradle failing and becoming stuck.
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, leader Kim Jong, together with his daughter on the right, attended a ceremony on Friday, April 25, 2025, announcing a new naval destroyer at the western port of Nampo. The authenticity of this image cannot be independently verified. A Korean watermark on these images reads: “KCNA,” which stands for the Korea Central News Agency. (Korea Central News Service via the Associated Press/Korea News Service)
KCNA did not disclose the cause of the incident, the extent of the damage, or whether any injuries occurred.
According to KCNA, during the ceremony, Kim criticized military officials, scientists, and shipyard staff for “serious accidents and criminal acts resulting from utter carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific practices.” He has called for a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, scheduled for late June, to address these “irresponsible mistakes.”
“It’s embarrassing. However, North Korea’s disclosure of the incident indicates its intent to accelerate the modernization of its navy, ultimately conveying assurance in its naval capabilities,” said Moon Kyung-sik, a naval expert at Hany University in Seoul.
Moon suspects that such mishaps are likely because North Korean workers were not yet adept with a vessel this sizable and were hurrying to launch it.
The damaged destroyers are anticipated to be of the same class as the country’s first destroyer, announced on April 25, which has been acknowledged by specialists as the largest and most advanced ship North Korea possesses thus far. Kim has named the first ship Cho Ha-ion, honoring a renowned Korean guerrilla fighter from the Japanese colonial era.
State media mention that these vessels are engineered to accommodate various weapon systems, including aerial and naval arsenal, along with corresponding ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim announced expectations for the ship to enter active service early next year and later supervise missile test-firings from the warship.
Lee Sung Joon, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the damaged ship feared to have similar systems, remains stranded at sea.
The North Korean report follows recent commercial satellite imagery revealing that the nation is constructing a second destroyer at the Jeongjin shipyard.
In tandem, a research website, affiliated with the Strategic Research Center, stated that satellite images captured on May 12 show the second vessel of the Cho Ha-ion class guided missile destroyer under construction at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin.
A report from the North Korea-centric 38 North website indicated last week that destroyers built at Chongjin shipyards are being readied for lateral launching from the quay. Historically, previous destroyers were launched from a western shipyard in Nampo and utilized floating dry docks instead.
Officials and analysts from South Korea assert that it is probable the Cho Ha-ion destroyer was built with assistance from Russia, coinciding with the strengthening military ties between the two nations. Although North Korea’s navy is generally regarded as inferior to South Korea’s navy, analysts consider destroyers to pose a significant security challenge.
In response to perceived threats from the US and Asian allies conducting joint military exercises amid rising tensions surrounding its nuclear agenda, Kim is focusing on expanding armament. He has indicated that acquiring a nuclear submarine will be the next pivotal advancement for enhancing his navy.
According to South Korean military officials, just hours after North Korea published the report on the damaged destroyer, it launched multiple cruise missiles from an area near the northeastern town of Songdok. This launch continues a recent streak of weapon testing activities by North Korea. South Korea’s military did not provide immediate details regarding the distance the missiles traveled.
Source: apnews.com