New Destroyer Damaged During Launch in North Korea

An accident occurred during the launch of a newly built 5,000-ton destroyer in North Korea.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on this.

It is noted that due to the incident on May 21 at the shipbuilding yard in Chongjin, the warship sustained hull breaches.

Dictator Kim Jong Un, present at the launch ceremony, stated that the accident happened due to negligence and irresponsibility, which could be considered a criminal act.

According to KCNA, during the launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, the parallel movement of the cradles was not ensured.
As a result, the stern of the ship prematurely slid off the cradles and ran aground, while the destroyer’s bow did not leave the slipway. The accident caused hull breaches in certain areas.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un placed the blame for the incident on the Department of Defense Industry of the Central Committee of the Party, Kim Chack Polytechnic University, the Central Ship Design Institute, the Chongjin Shipyard, and their respective officials.

Kim Jong Un emphasized that the destroyer’s repair must be completed by the June plenary session of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, as it is a political issue related to the state’s prestige.

No official photos or videos of the incident have been released. However, this ship is likely similar to the multipurpose destroyer Choi Hyun, which North Korea launched on April 25 of this year.

Within a few days, comprehensive tests of the missile and gun armament of the newly built warship were conducted.

During the tests, the ship’s systems demonstrated the capability to launch surface-to-air, cruise, and anti-ship missiles.

The artillery systems were also tested, including the 127mm automatic gun and the integrated anti-aircraft artillery system.