North Korea Detains Fourth Official Over Failed Warship Launch

By Staff, Agencies

North Korea has arrested a fourth official in connection with last week’s botched launch of a newly built naval destroyer, which reportedly suffered structural damage during its side-launch into the water.

According to state media on Monday, the latest detainee is Ri Hyong Son, a vice department director within the Munitions Industry Department of the ruling Workers’ Party.

Ri was taken into custody on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency [KCNA] said, citing his "great responsibility" in what North Korean leader Kim Jong Un denounced as a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.”

The failed launch, which took place during a ceremony last Wednesday, left parts of the 5,000-ton destroyer’s hull crushed. It follows the reported detention over the weekend of three others involved in the project, including the shipyard’s chief engineer and manager Hong Kil Ho.

Despite initial reports of severe damage, KCNA has since claimed that underwater and internal inspections revealed no holes in the warship’s hull, downplaying the incident as not serious. Nonetheless, recovery work to rebalance the vessel is ongoing and “on schedule,” according to the agency.

South Korea’s military, citing joint assessments with US intelligence, confirmed that North Korea’s side-launch attempt failed and left the vessel listing in the water.

The damaged destroyer is believed to be similar in size and function to the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class warship, which Pyongyang recently unveiled. North Korea claims the Choe Hyon is equipped with its most advanced weaponry and is slated to enter service early next year.

Seoul’s military has suggested the destroyer may have been developed with Russian support, possibly in exchange for North Korea sending thousands of troops to assist Moscow in its war against Ukraine.