Fri May 23 08:28:19 UTC 2025: ## North Korea Blames “Criminal Negligence” for Botched Warship Launch
**Seoul – May 23, 2025 -** North Korea is scrambling to contain the fallout from the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, blaming “criminal negligence” for the mishap and vowing to hold those responsible accountable. The incident, which occurred at the Chongjin shipyard on Wednesday, May 21st, has raised questions about the state of North Korea’s naval modernization program and its technological capabilities.
Leader Kim Jong Un reportedly expressed fury over the incident, prompting a swift response from the country’s military committee. While state media claims the damage to the 5,000-tonne-class destroyer is minor, satellite imagery suggests a more significant problem, with the vessel lying on its side, partially submerged.
“The severity of the damage to the…destroyer was “not serious,” KCNA state news agency stated on Friday. However, outside observers, including experts in South Korea, are skeptical.
Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defence Network, believes the warship likely suffered extensive damage, including flooding of the engine room and hull breaches. He suggests that while North Korea may attempt a superficial repair, a complete overhaul could take over a year.
According to North Korean accounts, the damage occurred when a transport cradle detached prematurely during the launch. Experts suggest North Korea’s unfamiliarity with launching warships of this size and a possible miscalculation regarding the balance of heavy weapons systems may have contributed to the failure.
The incident is particularly embarrassing given Kim Jong Un’s recent pronouncements about modernizing North Korea’s navy as a counter to perceived U.S.-led threats. The failed launch of the second destroyer comes shortly after the celebrated launch of its first, raising doubts about the pace and success of this modernization effort.
Some analysts suggest that by publicly acknowledging the failure, Kim Jong Un aims to demonstrate his resolve and boost discipline within the military and scientific communities. However, others warn that scapegoating scientists and technicians could have detrimental long-term consequences for North Korea’s defense science sector.
“If scientists are held severely accountable, I would say the future of North Korea’s defence science doesn’t look very bright, as it would be a sign that political responsibility is being prioritised over technical accountability,” Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea’s Science and Technology Policy Institute wrote on Facebook.
The Central Military Commission has already summoned the manager of the Chongjin shipyard as part of its investigation. The incident is expected to be a key topic at a high-level Workers’ Party meeting in late June.
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