DPRK detains officials over warship accident
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The DPRK detains four officials after a destroyer launch mishap damaged a naval warship, prompting Kim Jong Un to call it a “criminal act”.
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DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, second right, and his daughter, third right, seen at the bottom right, attend a ceremony to unveil a new naval destroyer at a Western port in Nampo, DPRK, April 25, 2025 (Korean Central News Agency/AP)
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has detained a fourth official in connection with last week’s failed launch of a naval destroyer, which caused damage to the 5,000-ton warship during its commissioning ceremony, state media reported Monday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that Ri Hyong Son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department under the Party Central Committee, was summoned and taken into custody on Sunday. Ri is reportedly “greatly responsible for the occurrence of the serious accident,” KCNA stated.
The detainment follows what Pyongyang officially described as “a serious accident” during Wednesday’s launch event. The warship’s hull was reportedly crushed in multiple sections, prompting immediate concern within the DPRK’s top leadership. The destroyer, newly constructed, was expected to represent a significant addition to the DPRK navy.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un condemned the incident in strong terms, calling it a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.” The KCNA report did not specify what role Ri played in the mishap, but emphasized his responsibility within the broader Munitions Industry Department.
Shipyard personnel are also held accountable
Ri's arrest comes after three other individuals were detained over the weekend, including the shipyard’s chief engineer. KCNA reported on Friday that Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the shipyard, was also summoned for questioning by authorities. These arrests suggest a sweeping internal investigation and high-level accountability measures within the military-industrial apparatus.
“At the scene of the destroyer launch accident, the work for completely restoring the balance of the warship is being actively conducted,” KCNA noted. It added that repair operations are proceeding “according to schedule,” despite initial fears about the scale of the damage.
Although initial statements from Pyongyang suggested severe structural compromise, KCNA has since downplayed the extent of the damage. A subsequent report noted that “an underwater and internal inspection of the warship confirmed that, unlike the initial announcement, there were no holes made at the warship's bottom,” and described the damage as “not serious.”
South Korea's military, citing joint intelligence assessments with Washington, concluded that the DPRK’s “side-launch attempt” had failed, leaving the vessel listing in the water shortly after the ceremony.
