🚢 North Korean Warship Crushed During Launch, Kim Jong-un Furious Over “Unforgivable” Error

A newly launched North Korean warship suffered severe damage to its hull during launch due to operational mistakes, prompting a rare and public rebuke from leader Kim Jong-un.

According to state-run KCNA, Kim attended the launch ceremony for a 5,000-ton destroyer at a shipyard in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. The warship is North Korea’s second 5,000-ton-class vessel launched in less than a month, signaling the regime’s push to expand its naval capabilities.

But what was meant to be a triumphant unveiling quickly turned into a technical failure.

“A serious accident occurred due to inexperience and negligence during the launch operation,” KCNA reported. “The ship’s stern slid off early, became jammed, and crushed parts of the bottom hull. This caused instability in the vessel, and the bow failed to detach from the ramp.”

Kim Jong-un reportedly erupted in anger, calling the incident a “criminal act of gross negligence and irresponsibility” that is “unacceptable and inexcusable.” He ordered immediate repairs to be completed before the upcoming Central Committee meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party in June, where disciplinary action against responsible officials is expected to be addressed.

The mishap comes just weeks after North Korea launched its first multi-role warship of the Choe Hyon class at the port of Nampo. That vessel successfully test-fired multiple types of missiles and is being touted by Pyongyang as a modern guided-missile destroyer. However, defense analysts outside the country classify it as a heavy frigate, noting that its size rivals advanced European warships.

The new destroyer features a complex missile configuration, with a total of 74 vertical launch system (VLS) cells spread across the fore and aft decks. In comparison, the U.S. Navy’s upcoming Constellation-class frigates have only 32 Mark 41 VLS cells, while the much larger Arleigh Burke-class destroyers carry up to 96.

North Korea’s design also incorporates a mix of launch tube sizes: 32 small, 12 medium, 20 large, and 10 extra-large cells—an unusual and complex approach. While less streamlined than the U.S. Navy’s standardized system, this could allow for greater payload diversity and mission flexibility, depending on missile type.

(Sources: KCNA, AFP, Reuters, Yonhap)

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