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Failure During Launch of North Korean Destroyer Damages Warship; Kim Jong-un Blames Negligence and Demands Repairs Before Party Meeting
A 5,000-ton destroyer from North Korea suffered a serious accident during its launch ceremony, held at the Chongjin shipyard in the northeast of the country on May 21, 2025. The event was attended by leader Kim Jong-un, who described the incident as a “criminal act” motivated by “absolute negligence and unscientific empiricism.”
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the accident occurred when the launch cradle at the stern released prematurely.
The failure caused the ship to lose balance, resulting in structural damage to the bottom of the hull. The vessel remains partially submerged and tilted in the water.
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The damaged destroyer is the second of the Choe Hyon class, a new line of military vessels that represents an advancement in the country’s naval capabilities.
These ships are equipped with vertical launch systems for cruise, ballistic, and anti-air missiles, as well as electronic scanning radars. The first model of this class was successfully launched in April 2025 at the Nampo shipyard and is currently undergoing testing.
In light of the incident, Kim Jong-un ordered that the ship be repaired before the plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party, scheduled for June. The leader emphasized the political importance of the project for the modernization of North Korean naval forces.
Public admission of failures by the regime is considered unusual. Observers believe this may reflect an attempt by the government to demonstrate seriousness in meeting military goals and to impose more discipline on those responsible for naval operations.
With information from Poder Naval.
