North Korea Detains Officials Over Warship Launch Failure Witnessed by Kim Jong Un

Report by Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

North Korea has arrested senior shipyard personnel following a major accident during the launch of a new 5,000-tonne warship, an incident directly witnessed by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported on Sunday.

The failed launch took place at Chongjin Shipyard, a northeastern port facility, where the warship partially capsized during its unveiling. The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that authorities detained the shipyard’s chief engineer and other key individuals amid a high-level investigation.

Leader Kim Jong Un, who observed the launch in person, expressed anger over the embarrassing failure. He described the incident as a serious blow to national pride and ordered strict accountability measures for those responsible.

According to satellite images analyzed by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the warship is seen tipped on its side, covered with blue tarps. The stern had swung into the harbor while the bow remained stuck on the slipway, suggesting a critical technical fault during the launch sequence.

The failed launch, reportedly held in front of a large audience, was intended to demonstrate the strength of North Korea’s growing naval capabilities. Experts believe the public nature of the incident has added to the regime’s embarrassment.

Kim has issued urgent directives to restore the damaged vessel before the upcoming ruling party meeting in June. KCNA noted that efforts to rehabilitate the warship are now underway.

In a separate KCNA report, North Korea reiterated its military stance, stating that its forces will “thoroughly contain and control all sorts of military threats” posed by foreign adversaries. The statement comes amid growing U.S. military presence in the region.