SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The second incident involving North Korea’s navy
destroyer
was damaged in its failed launch to the water this week, state media reported Thursday, in an embarrassment for leader
Kim Jong Un
as he pushes to modernize his naval forces.
It’s uncommon for North Korea to admit military failures, but experts believe that revealing the unsuccessful ship launch indicates that Kim is committed to advancing his navy and is assured he will eventually reach his goals.
At a launch ceremony held on Wednesday at the northeastern port city of Chongjin, the recently constructed 5,000-ton destroyer experienced an imbalance when the transport cradle from the rear portion slipped off and got lodged underneath. This resulted in damage to the vessel’s lower parts, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency.
The KCNA did not offer specifics regarding what led to the issue, the extent of the damage, or if there were any injuries.
According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a “serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.” Kim called for a ruling Workers’ Party meeting slated for late June to address their “irresponsible errors.”
“It is indeed disgraceful. However, North Korea chose to reveal this incident because they aim to demonstrate their accelerated efforts towards modernizing their naval capabilities,” stated Moon Keun-sik, a naval specialist teaching at Seoul’s Hanyang University, adding that this also reflects their belief in being able to ultimately develop an even stronger navy.
Moon speculated that the incident probably occurred due to the North Korean workforce not being accustomed to handling such a sizable vessel and were hurried in their efforts to launch it.
The impaired ship was probably of the same classification as that of the nation’s.
first destroyer,
revealed on April 25, this ship was deemed by specialists as the largest and most sophisticated warship built by the North so far. Kim referred to the initial vessel, dubbed Choe Hyon after a renowned Korean guerrilla fighter from the Japanese colonial era, as a crucial component in achieving his objective of extending the military’s operational reach.
nuclear strike capabilities.
State media described that ship as designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship.
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea.
The North Korean report came after recent commercial satellite images indicated that the country was building its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin.
Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said the satellite imagery of Chongjin’s Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction.
The analysis provided by the North Korea-focused 38 North website last week indicated that a destroyer currently under construction at the Chongjin shipyard is likely to be launched laterally from the quay. This launch technique is not commonly employed in North Korea. In comparison, the previously constructed destroyer at the western shipyard in Nampo utilized a floating dry dock for its launching process instead.
South Korean authorities and specialists indicate that the Choe Hyon destroyer was probably constructed with
Russian assistance
As military ties between the two nations continue to grow, despite North Korea’s navy being regarded as less advanced than South Korea’s, experts still consider the destroyer a significant security concern due to its potential to bolster both the country’s offensive and defensive capacities.
Kim has portrayed the arms increase as a reaction to perceived threats.
challenges emanating from the United States
And its partners in Asia, who have been increasing collaborative military drills due to growing tensions regarding the North’s nuclear activities. He mentions the procurement of a
nuclear-powered submarine
would be his next big step in strengthening his navy.
Hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles from an area near the northeastern town of Sondok, according to South Korea’s military. The launches were a continuation of a streak of
weapons-testing activities
In recent years, North Korea has carried out these tests. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff did not promptly disclose the distance traveled by the missiles. They mentioned that both South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies are currently analyzing the launches.
Kim Tong-hyung and Hyung-jin Kim, The Associated Press
