NORTH Korea has arrested three shipyard bosses after a humiliating warship launch flop that Kim Jong-un called a “criminal act”.
The 5,000-tonne destroyer – hailed as a symbol of military might – ended up crushed and listing in the harbour during a high-profile launch in the port city of Chongjin last Wednesday.
State media on Sunday said three officials – chief engineer Kang Jong Chol, hull workshop head Han Kyong Hak, and deputy manager Kim Yong Hak – were detained over the “serious accident”.
Kim Jong-un, who watched the botched launch unfold in person, reportedly fumed that the fiasco had “damaged the country’s dignity”.
The Pyongyang tyrant has since ordered the ship to be restored by next month’s ruling party meeting, with repairs already under way.
KCNA said the incident was “a criminal act caused by absolute carelessness” and insisted those involved “can never evade their responsibility for the crime”.
Satellite images showed the vessel lying on its side, covered in blue tarps.
The stern appeared to have slipped into the water while the bow remained on the shipway – a spectacle experts say amplified the embarrassment for the regime.
“No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged,” KCNA added.
South Korea’s military, citing joint analysis with US intelligence, said Pyongyang’s side-launch attempt of the ship had failed and left it crippled.
But North Korean state media claimed an “underwater and internal inspection” showed “no holes made at the warship’s bottom”, calling the damage “not serious”.
Despite the regime’s insistence, insiders say Kim is hunting for scapegoats as part of a high-stakes purge.
The manager of the Chongjin shipyard, Hong Kil Ho, has also been summoned by law enforcement and could face similar repercussions.
The failed destroyer is believed to be the same class as the newly unveiled Choe Hyon warship – a 5,000-tonne behemoth reportedly capable of carrying nuclear-capable cruise missiles.
Analysts believe Russian help may have gone into its development, possibly in exchange for North Korean troops aiding Moscow in Ukraine.
International relations expert Edward Howell previously told The Sun the warship fiasco was a double blow for Kim.
“It’s an obstacle, nonetheless, to North Korea’s further development of its navy, the modernisation of its navy and its broader military modernisation,” he said.
He added that it also dented the regime’s “sense of status and prestige. All great powers have strong navies, and Kim Jong-un wants to make sure that North Korea isn’t left out in that regard.”
While it’s unclear what exact punishment awaits the detainees, North Korea’s grisly track record suggests it could be fatal.
In the past, top officials have been executed by anti-aircraft guns or killed for infractions like falling asleep during rallies attended by Kim.
One source told NK News the fact that the incident was publicly reported likely means “North Korea is going to lose some of its best naval engineers.”
The ship’s hull reportedly suffered scratches and seawater entered through a rescue channel, with repairs expected to take around 10 days – though Kim has demanded it be fixed before June.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/14317950/north-korea-arrests-three-warship-disaster/
