A destroyer was overturned in front of Kim Jong-un - arrests began in the DPRK

In North Korea, on May 21, the launching ceremony of a new destroyer at the Chongjin shipyard ended in disaster. The process, which was supposed to be a solemn and official event, turned into an unexpected incident even for the country’s leadership — the ship launched incorrectly and tilted to one side.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally attended the ceremony and immediately reacted to the incident. He called what happened a “major accident and a crime.” The North Korean leader described the situation as “absolutely unacceptable.”

Responsible individuals detained

According to the Korean Central News Agency, three responsible individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. These are: engineer Kang Jong Chol, head of the hull assembly workshop Han Kyong Hak, and administrative manager Kim Yong Hak. All of them were found guilty of the technical failure and the resulting incident.

Ship status tracked via satellite

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the ship’s launch, the new destroyer tilted and ended up partially on land and partially in water. This is clearly visible in satellite images. The damaged part of the ship is covered with a blue tarp.

A symbolic disaster — with real consequences

North Korean officials stated that the destroyer did not suffer serious damage and that repairs are expected to be completed within 10 days. However, experts believe that such an unexpected technical failure, witnessed personally by Kim Jong-un, could significantly damage North Korea’s military image.

The military ceremony involving Kim Jong-un ended in failure. The incident clearly demonstrated how internal discipline and responsibility are handled in the DPRK. Now, all attention is focused on the ship's restoration process and the internal consequences of the event.