A brand new North Korean warship was badly damaged during its launch on Wednesday, triggering rare public outrage from the country’s leader Kim Jong Un.
According to state media KCNA, the 5,000-ton destroyer slipped off a flatcar during the ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin. The accident crushed the lower section of the ship before it could even touch water—an embarrassing moment for a country that rarely admits fault.
“Criminal Carelessness,” Says Kim
Kim did not hold back. He called the incident a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.” Reports say he lashed out at the commanders and engineers responsible. The flatcar’s error was pinned on “inexperienced command and operational negligence.”
He ordered the ship to be repaired immediately—before next month’s plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party. The implication was clear: heads will roll.
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A Symbol of Strength—Now on Its Side
South Korea’s military confirmed Thursday that the damaged North Korean warship was lying sideways in the water, likely unusable in its current state. According to KONA, Kim made it clear: those responsible will be punished during the upcoming party meeting.
This kind of language is unusual even by North Korea’s standards. It suggests the incident hit more than metal—it hit national pride.
This is not the first time North Korea unveiled a 5,000-ton vessel. Just last month, it revealed the Choe Hyon, a similar destroyer also launched with great fanfare. Kim appeared at that event with his daughter, Ju Ae, widely seen as his potential successor.
The regime claimed that warship had the “most powerful weapons,” though analysts remain skeptical. Some speculate the ship could house short-range tactical nuclear missiles, although North Korea has yet to prove it can miniaturize nukes effectively.
Interestingly, both vessels were launched from Chongjin, a port city just across from Russia’s Vladivostok. This has stirred fresh rumors of Moscow’s help. As Reuters notes, some believe North Korea may be sending troops to Russia in return for military hardware—though hard proof remains elusive. Source: Reuters
So the crash isn’t just an accident—it’s an international embarrassment. Especially if that ship had Russian fingerprints on its blueprints.
The incident underscores a hard truth: even totalitarian regimes can’t micromanage gravity. You can build nukes, rockets, and destroyers—but if your team can’t secure a launch ramp, you’re just one slip away from humiliation.
More importantly, the event may signal internal chaos in Pyongyang’s elite military circles—just as the country sharpens its rhetoric against the West.
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