State-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has reported that the launch of a new North Korean Destroyer was botched and left the ship’s hull torn open. The ship ended up on its side in the water. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, said the event was caused by a “serious accident.” The situation occurred at the launch of the their newest warship on Wednesday, May 21. Kim Jong Un is quoted as saying the event “was a criminal act caused by pure carelessness,” as reported by the country’s state media, KCNA.
The launch of the 5000-ton destroyer failed when the vessel became stuck on the launching sled and tipped, which ripped a hole in the bottom of the ship. The incident occurred at the Cheongjin shipyard in the northeast part of North Korea.
KCNA television news anchor Ri Chun-hee said in a broadcast that the accident was caused by “inexperienced command and operational carelessness. In the course of the launch, the launch slide of the stern has departed first and stranded as the flatcar failed to move in parallel,” Ri said. “Some sections of the warship’s bottom were crushed, destroying the balance of the warship and the bow couldn’t leave the shipway, leading to a serious accident.”
Leader Kim was present for the launch and “made a stern assessment that this was a serious accident that could not have happened, could not be tolerated, and was a criminal act caused by pure carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” KCNA reported. No photos were released from the scene of the accident but satellite images show the ship lying on its side in the water. No information about casualties or injuries had been released at this time. The accompanying image here shows the ship prior to the attempted launch.