North Korean Destroyer Suffers Major Launch Mishap, Kim Vows Punishment

A newly unveiled North Korean warship suffered a major setback on Wednesday after a failed launch damaged the vessel, prompting strong condemnation from leader Kim Jong Un, who labeled the incident a “criminal act” and warned of severe consequences for those responsible.

The 5,000-ton destroyer, believed to be similar to the Choe Hyon-class vessel displayed in April, was undergoing a launch ceremony at the Chongjin Shipyard when a malfunction caused the ship’s stern to slip prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stuck on the slipway, state media outlet KCNA reported Thursday.

Kim, who witnessed the accident, blamed the failure on “inexperienced command and operational carelessness” and harshly criticized officials from several institutions, including the Munitions Industry Department and Kim Chaek University of Technology. He ordered the vessel’s restoration before a key Workers’ Party meeting in June and vowed that “irresponsible errors” would be addressed at the plenary session.

Calling the mishap an “unscientific, irresponsible act,” Kim said it disgraced the nation’s dignity and self-respect. The destroyer is reportedly equipped with advanced weapons systems and shares similarities with Russian naval designs, fueling speculation of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow in exchange for North Korean troop and weapons support in the Ukraine conflict.

Following the failed launch, South Korea’s military said the warship appeared to be equipped similarly to the Choe Hyon and confirmed the vessel remains partially submerged after what is believed to be a failed side-launch attempt—an unusual method possibly chosen due to lack of a launch incline.

Just hours after the incident, North Korea launched multiple cruise missiles into waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which said it continues monitoring for further provocations.

The missile test marked Pyongyang’s second weapons launch this month, amid heightened regional tensions and scrutiny over North Korea’s advancing military capabilities.