 "This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on April 30, 2025 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (centre R) with his daughter Ju Ae (centre L) attending the test-firing of a weapons system from North Korea's latest destroyer, the Choe Hyon (behind), during two days of tests on April 28-29 off the coast of an undisclosed location in North Korea. AFP")
A new North Korean warship was damaged in a “serious accident,” leaving the country’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un furious. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the accident occurred on Wednesday at the northeastern port of Chongjin during a launch ceremony of the warship. The report came as a surprise because it was seen as a rare admission of failure by the hermit nation.
According to KCNA, the 5,000-ton destroyer slid off a flatcar due to “inexperienced command and operational carelessness in the course of the launch." The accident crushed the bottom parts of the ship. During the event, Kim reportedly stressed the importance of such destroyers for advancing North Korea’s military capabilities.
Kim later described the accident as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness” that “could not be tolerated,” KCNA reported. He slammed the officials involved in the accident and said that the incident “brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse". He ordered the ship to be restored before next month’s plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party.
Warship laid sideways
Meanwhile, on Thursday, South Korea’s military said the warship was lying sideways in the water. According to KCNA, Kim 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”.
The incident took place a month after Pyongyang unveiled another 5,000-tonne destroyer-class vessel named Choe Hyon . The launch ceremony was attended by Kim with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed that the vessel was equipped with the “most powerful weapons” and that it would “enter into operation early next year”.
Following the launch event, some analysts argued that the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles, although North Korea has not proven it can miniaturise its nukes. Amid speculations, the South Korean military argued that Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help , possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Interestingly, the Wednesday ceremony was held in the North Korean city, which is conveniently close to Russia’s Vladivostok port. Hence, Russian involvement cannot be disregarded.
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More ShortsWith inputs from agencies.