DPRK reports 'serious' accident at warship launch ceremony
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A major accident during the launch of a new DPRK destroyer in Chongjin left a warship damaged.
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In this photo provided by the DPRK government, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, center, inspects the military exercises at an undisclosed place in the DPRK, on May 13, 2025. (AP)
A major accident occurred during the launch ceremony of a new DPRK 5,000-ton naval destroyer, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un denouncing the mishap as a "criminal act."
The incident took place on Wednesday in the eastern port city of Chongjin, where the new destroyer was being unveiled. According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), "a serious accident occurred" during the launch, damaging the ship’s structure.
Kim, who observed the entire event, sharply criticized what he called "inexperienced command and operational carelessness." KCNA reported that "some sections of the warship’s bottom [were] crushed," and that the mishap "destroyed the balance of the warship."
He condemned the event as a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness," vowing that such "irresponsible errors" would be addressed at the upcoming plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee next month.
DPRK’s new destroyer and strategic significance
The destroyer launched in Chongjin is the second 5,000-ton vessel to be revealed in recent weeks.
In April, Pyongyang unveiled the Choe Hyon, another destroyer-class ship reportedly outfitted with "the most powerful weapons." According to state media, the ship is expected to enter operation early next year.
Some military analysts speculate that the Choe Hyon may eventually carry short-range tactical nuclear missiles. However, the DPRK has yet to demonstrate its ability to miniaturize nuclear warheads for such deployment.
The mishap has also drawn attention due to potential Russian-DPRK military cooperation. The South Korean military has suggested that vessels like the Choe Hyon may have been developed with Russian support, possibly in exchange for Pyongyang’s reported deployment of troops to aid Moscow in the Ukraine war.
On that note, the DPRK confirmed for the first time in April that it had deployed troops to Russia in support of the war in Ukraine. The move was interpreted by analysts as part of a broader geopolitical alignment and military collaboration.
