With Kim as Witness: North Korea’s Destroyer Collapsed in the Sea During Launch

A failed launching attempt in the North Korean port city of Chongjin has cast long shadows over one of the regime’s most ambitious military projects. During a ceremony attended by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un, a new 5,000-ton destroyer capsized, causing significant damage to the vessel’s hull.

According to the state-controlled news service KCNA, the incident occurred on May 21 when the destroyer was about to be launched. A serious mechanical crane system imbalance led to the stern slipping off the cradles prematurely and hitting the seabed, while the bow remained trapped in the slipway. The result: a capsized hull with holes and a humiliated regime.

Kim Jong-un, who was present throughout the event, called the mishap a result of “negligence and irresponsibility” and asserted that this could be interpreted as a “criminal act.” He has ordered the ship to be repaired before the upcoming plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party Central Committee in June.

The ill-fated vessel is identical to the destroyer Choe Hyong, which was launched in April from the Nampo shipyard.

This type of vessel is part of the most extensive naval expansion in North Korea’s history, and the incident casts doubt on the regime’s technical capability to accomplish its naval ambitions.

Satellite images released by the Open Source Centre show the capsized ship partially submerged on its starboard side, covered with tarpaulins. The images have circulated widely on social media, drawing international attention to the otherwise closed-off nation.

With Kim Jong-un’s open criticism and the symbolic significance of the destroyer’s failure, it is clear that the incident hides more than just a technical mishap. Instead, it illustrates the tension between North Korea’s desire for proud independence and its recurring technological limitations.

An observer noted that “this episode reveals a glimpse of the internal struggle between propaganda and reality.” An image that may be challenging to rectify for a leader building his image on control, strength, and flawlessness.

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