Kim Jong-Un calls failed warship launch a ‘criminal act,’ vows punishment

North Korea suffered a major setback this week after a newly built warship capsized during a failed launch attempt, prompting leader Kim Jong-Un to condemn the incident as a “criminal act” and pledge swift punishment for those responsible.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a “serious accident” occurred on Wednesday at the northeastern port city of Chongjin as the country attempted to launch a 5,000-ton destroyer — its second in a month. The mishap unfolded as Kim himself looked on: the rear of the vessel entered the water, but the front failed to disengage from the launch ramp, leaving the ship unbalanced and ultimately damaging its hull.

While no official images were released, South Korean military officials monitoring the launch via satellite reported Thursday that the ship was seen lying on its side in the harbor. There was no confirmation from Pyongyang regarding possible casualties.

The failure marks a particularly humiliating moment for Kim, who has repeatedly spotlighted military modernization as a central pillar of his leadership. Building new warships to replace the North’s outdated Soviet-era fleet has been a key element of that strategy, alongside nuclear weapons development.

In unusually harsh remarks reported by KCNA, Kim lambasted the incident as stemming from “carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.” He accused officials of damaging the country’s “dignity and self-respect,” and warned that the matter would be addressed at the ruling Workers’ Party meeting scheduled for June. He also ordered that the damaged vessel be restored in time for the gathering, framing it as “a political issue directly related to the prestige of the state.”

Although North Korea typically conceals operational failures to preserve the image of its leadership, Kim has occasionally used public admissions of failure — from natural disasters to construction accidents — to tighten internal control and signal zero tolerance for incompetence.

The failed launch came just hours before the North test-fired several cruise missiles from its eastern coast, according to South Korean defense officials.

The destroyer involved in Wednesday’s incident is believed to be of the same class as the ship launched successfully in April from the western port of Nampo. That vessel, which KCNA described as the largest naval ship North Korea has ever produced, also served as a launch platform for cruise missiles during a test attended by Kim. Analysts believe Russian technology may have been involved in its design.

Experts at 38 North, a US-based monitoring site, recently noted signs that the latest destroyer was being prepared for launch using an unusual sideways slip method, likely due to the lack of proper infrastructure at the shipyard.

South Korean intelligence has also accused Pyongyang of sending conventional weapons and artillery shells to Russia in support of its war in Ukraine. In return, North Korea is believed to be receiving fuel, military equipment, and technical assistance. Intelligence reports estimate that roughly 15,000 North Korean personnel have been deployed to Russia, with at least 600 reported killed and thousands more wounded.