North Korea Investigates Warship Launch Mishap, Vows Accountability

By Staff, Agencies

North Korea has launched a full-scale investigation into a recent accident involving a new 5,000-ton warship that was damaged during its launch ceremony earlier this week, according to state media reports on Friday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Chongjin Shipyard, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un present for the event.

The launch reportedly went awry during an attempt to side-launch the vessel—a method involving sliding the ship into the water sideways—which South Korean military officials believe North Korea was employing for the first time. Satellite images released by Airbus Space and shared by the UK-based Open Source Centre showed the vessel tilted to one side and partially covered with tarpaulins, which the group described as an effort to obscure the extent of the mishap.

Initial reports from North Korean media on Thursday indicated that portions of the hull had been crushed. However, a follow-up report from the Korean Central News Agency [KCNA] on Friday revised that assessment, stating that no holes were found at the ship’s bottom after an underwater inspection. The report confirmed scratches to the starboard side and water intrusion into the stern but described the overall damage as “not serious,” estimating repairs would take approximately ten days.

Kim Jong Un criticized shipyard workers, engineers, and government officials for what he termed a “criminal act,” and emphasized that such mistakes would not be tolerated. He said the accident “undermined the dignity and self-respect of the state” and ordered that the vessel be restored before a June plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee.

Authorities have summoned Chongjin Shipyard manager Hong Kil Ho, and the Central Military Commission has instructed investigators to determine the cause of the incident and identify those responsible. KCNA reported that accountability would be enforced, regardless of the ship’s eventual restoration.

The damaged warship is the second such vessel introduced by North Korea in recent weeks, following the April 25 launch of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon destroyer at the Nampo Shipyard. That ship is reportedly equipped with a range of weaponry, including supersonic and strategic cruise missiles. Analysts have noted that the vessel’s radar and missile systems resemble those found on Russian warships, prompting speculation of technical collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow.

North Korea is believed to be supplying arms and ammunition to Russia for use in the conflict in Ukraine, with reports suggesting it is receiving financial and technological support in return—potentially contributing to advances in its naval capabilities. South Korea’s military indicated on Thursday that the warship involved in the accident appeared to share similar armaments with the Choe Hyon.