Failed launch: Arrests after "serious accident" of warship in North Korea

In North Korea, major problems arose during the inauguration ceremony of a naval ship. Dictator Kim Jong Un was furious. Several people allegedly responsible for the incident now face severe punishment.

According to state media, North Korea has arrested shipyard employees suspected of being responsible for the accident during the launch of a new warship. As part of the investigation, law enforcement officials arrested, among others, the chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard, the state news agency KCNA reported.

The launch of the prestigious warship failed in front of leader Kim Jong Un. As the 5,000-ton destroyer was being launched in the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday, a loss of balance caused a serious accident, KCNA reported. Parts of the ship's hull were destroyed.

According to the South Korean military, the ship capsized and landed sideways in the water. According to KCNA, the incident prompted an angry reaction from Kim, who declared it a crime committed by those responsible and an embarrassment for his country.

Kim said the accident was caused by gross negligence and intolerable irresponsibility. The incident had brought "the dignity and self-respect" of the North Korean state to a collapse. The immediate repair of the ship was not merely a practical matter, but a political necessity and directly linked to the authority of the state. Kim ordered that the ship be repaired before a key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in June.