SEOUL: North Korea鈥檚 second naval destroyer was damaged in a failed launch this week, state media reported Thursday, sparking fury from leader Kim Jong Un, who wants bigger warships to deal with what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country.
It鈥檚 not common for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, but observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch suggests that Kim is serious about his naval advancement program and confident of ultimately achieving that objective.
During a launching event at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday, the newly built 5,000-tonne-class destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
KCNA didn鈥檛 provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of the damage or whether anyone was injured.
According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a 鈥渟erious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.鈥� Kim called for a ruling Workers鈥� Party meeting slated for late June to address their 鈥渋rresponsible errors.鈥�
The destroyers are North Korea鈥檚 most advanced warships
鈥淚t鈥檚 a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it鈥檚 speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build鈥� a greater navy, said Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul鈥檚 Hanyang University.
Moon suspected the incident likely happened because North Korean workers aren鈥檛 yet familiar with such a large warship and were rushed to put it in the water.
The damaged vessel was likely the same class as the country鈥檚 first destroyer unveiled last month, which experts assessed as North Korea鈥檚 largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim called the first vessel, named Choe Hyon 鈥� a famed Korean guerilla fighter during the Japanese colonial period 鈥� a significant asset for advancing his goal of expanding the military鈥檚 operational range and nuclear strike capabilities.
State media described that ship as designed to carry weapons systems including 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.
Satellite photos show the partially submerged destroyer
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea. An Associated Press analysis of Planet Labs PBC images taken Thursday showed the ship partially submerged on its side with tarpaulins draped over the wreckage.
Earlier 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鈥檚 Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction.
A report by the North Korea-focused 38 North website assessed last week that the destroyer in Chongjin was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay, a method that has been rarely used in North Korea. The report said the previous destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo, in contrast, used a floating dry dock.
South Korean officials and experts say the Choe Hyon destroyer was likely built with Russian assistance as the two countries鈥� military partnerships are booming. While North Korea鈥檚 naval forces are considered far inferior to those of its rivals, analysts say the destroyer with nuclear-capable missiles and an advanced radar system would still enhance the North鈥檚 offensive and defensive capabilities.
Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and South Korea, which have been expanding joint military exercises in response to the North鈥檚 advancing nuclear program. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine would be his next big step in strengthening the North Korean navy.
Hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North Korea test-fired multiple cruise missiles from an area about 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Chongjin, according to South Korea鈥檚 military. The launches were a continuation of a streak of weapons-testing activities by North Korea in recent years. South Korea鈥檚 Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were being analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities.