North Korea launches probe on warship launch

23/5/2025 6:12

North Korea has begun a

full-scale investigation into the accident that occurred during

the launch of a warship this week, state media KCNA reported on

Friday.



Pyongyang has said the incident on Wednesday was caused by a

loss of balance while the vessel was being launched, and

sections of the bottom of the warship were crushed.



An internal inspection found that there were no holes at the

warship's bottom, but the starboard hull was scratched and

seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue

channel, the report said.



The extent of damage was "not serious," the report said,

adding the investigation group was ordered to find the cause of

the accident and those responsible for it. The report did not

mention any injuries or deaths as a result of the accident.



The isolated state's leader Kim Jong Un, who watched

Wednesday's launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer at the

northeastern shipyard of Chongjin, berated it as a "criminal

act" that could not be tolerated, according to state media.



The mishap likely occurred in front of a large crowd,

increasing the public humiliation for Kim, military analysts

said.



South Korea's military said on Thursday that the ship was

lying on its side in the water.



It would take two to three days to restore the balance

of the warship by pumping up seawater from the flooded chamber

and around 10 days to restore the warship's side, the KCNA

report said, citing experts' estimates.



Treating the accident as a serious matter was part of an

effort to fight against "incautiousness" and "irresponsibility,"

according to KCNA.



Hong Kil Ho, the manager of the Chongjin shipyard, was

summoned to the law-enforcement organ on Thursday as it began

measures to detain and investigate those responsible for the

accident, the report said.