London – The country’s government media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that “a serious accident” affects the launch of the latest warship in the country on Wednesday, “was a criminal act caused by pure neglect.”
The state -run Korean Central News Agency stated that the launch failed after the ship became stuck in its launch and tending, causing damage to the bottom of the ship. The accident occurred in the Cheongjin ship in the northeast of the country.
Kim-who was present to launch the destroyer of an area of 5,000 tons-conducted a strict assessment that this was a serious accident that could not happen, and it could not be tolerated, and it was a criminal act due to pure negligence, non-scientific responsibility. “
KCNA, including the ammunition industry department, the Institute of Governmental Science Academy, the Kim Chaik University of Technology and the Central Ship Design Institute, said that Kim “warned” many government agencies and institutions, including the Industry Department of Municipal, the Institute of Government Academy of Sciences, and Kim Chaek University of Technology and the Central Ship Design Institute.
The image of the satellite shows the new North Korean warship in Harbor before its launch, in Chongin, North Korea, on May 18, 2025.
Maxar Technologies/via Reuters
Kim said that the officials “will be dealt with” at a meeting of the Central Committee next month.
The ship, which was launched on Wednesday, is the second of the new destroyer in North Korea. The first – Choe Hyon – in April.
During a ceremony for the launch of The Choe Hyon at the port of Nambo on the western coast of the country, Kim said that building the ship represented a “penetration” in North Korea’s naval update.
Kim also said that he “intends to build a blue water operating fleet”-and this means a force capable of working in the open ocean instead of only in coastal waters around the Korean Peninsula.
ABC News’ Eliee Kaufman contributed to this report.
