North Korea’s second naval destroyer is broken in a failed launch at a ceremony attended by President Kim Jong-un

North Korea’s chief Kim Jong-un. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

North Korea’s second naval destroyer was broken in its failed launch to the water this week, state media reported on Thursday, in a humiliation for chief Kim Jong-un as he pushes to modernise his naval forces.

It’s not widespread for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, however observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch means that Mr. Kim is critical about his naval development program and assured of finally reaching its targets.

During a launching occasion on the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday (May 21, 2025), the newly constructed 5,000-ton-class destroyer turned unbalanced and was punctured in its backside sections after a transport cradle on the strict part slid off first and have become caught, based on the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

KCNA did not present particulars on what triggered the issue, the severity of the harm or whether or not anybody was injured.

According to KCNA, Mr. Kim, who was current on the ceremony, blamed army officers, scientists, and shipyard operators for a ‘serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism’. Mr. Kim referred to as for a ruling Workers’ Party assembly slated for late June to handle their ‘irresponsible errors’.

“It’s a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it’s speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build a greater navy,” mentioned Moon Keun-sik, a navy professional who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University.

Mr. Moon suspected the incident probably occurred as a result of North Korean staff aren’t but conversant in such a big warship and have been rushed to place it within the water.

The broken vessel was probably in the identical class because the nation’s first destroyer, unveiled April 25, which consultants assessed because the North’s largest and most superior warship to this point. Mr. Kim referred to as the primary vessel, named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerilla fighter throughout the Japanese colonial interval — a major asset for advancing his objective of increasing the army’s operational vary and nuclear strike capabilities.

State media described that ship as designed to deal with numerous weapons programs, together with anti-air and anti-ship weapons in addition to nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Mr. Kim mentioned, “The ship was expected to enter active duty early next year, and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship”.

Lee Sung-joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, mentioned on Thursday (May 22, 025) “the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea”.

The North Korean report got here after latest business satellite tv for pc pictures indicated that the nation was constructing its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin.

Beyond Parallel, an internet site run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies suppose tank, mentioned “the satellite imagery of Chongjin’s Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction”.

A report by the North Korea-focused 38 North web site assessed final week that the destroyer constructed on the Chongjin shipyard was being ready to be launched sideways from the jetty, a technique that has been hardly ever utilized in North Korea. The report mentioned the earlier destroyer launched on the western shipyard of Nampo, in distinction, used a floating dry dock.

South Korean officers and consultants say “the Choe Hyon destroyer was probably constructed with Russian assistance as the 2 international locations’ military partnerships are booming. While North Korea’s naval forces are thought of inferior to South Korea’s, analysts nonetheless view the destroyer as a critical safety menace, because it may improve the nation’s offensive and defensive capabilities.

Mr. Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and its allies in Asia, who’ve been increasing joint army workout routines amid rising tensions over the North’s nuclear programme. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine can be his subsequent large step in strengthening his Navy.

Hours after releasing the report on the broken destroyer, North Korea fired a number of cruise missiles from an space close to the northeastern city of Sondok, based on South Korea’s army. The launches have been a continuation of a streak of weapons-testing activities by North Korea in recent times. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff did not instantly say how far the missiles flew, noting the launches have been being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.