Satellite imagery has revealed the damage incurred by North Korea’s new warship during an unsuccessful launch at a shipyard in Chongjin, where Kim Jong Un was present.
The ship appears to be listing in the water, draped in large blue tarpaulins, while part of it is on the ground, outside the water.
According to the state news agency KCNA, officials have initiated an investigation into what the country’s leader has described as a “criminal act.” Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities reported from the incident, which took place on Thursday.
KCNA played down the incident’s severity, asserting that “the damage was not serious” and clarifying that “there are no holes in the ship’s hull.” The report indicated that while the right side of the destroyer suffered scratches, only a small amount of water entered the rear section.
Images of the ship before its launch:
Images of the ship after the launch:
The shipyard director, Hong Gil Ho, has been called in for questioning by authorities. Repairs are expected to take around ten days.
In his comments on Thursday, Kim Jong Un attributed the mishap to negligence, stressing that those accountable would face consequences.
This incident occurs just weeks after the unveiling of the new 5,000-ton destroyer “Choe Hyon,” which North Korea touted as a significant technological advancement and was slated to become operational early next year.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
