New North Korean warship attended by Kim Jong-un was destroyed at its launch ceremony
Seoul, South Korea (AP) – State media reported on Thursday that the keys for the new 5,000-ton destroyer promoted by the North Korean Navy were damaged during a launch ceremony held by leader Kim Jong Un.
According to South Korea's Central News Agency, the ship slipped off the ramp and was stuck after the flat car failed to move, abandoning its balance and crushing the bottom part of the ship.
The accident at the ceremony at Gyeongjin Port on Wednesday was an embarrassing setback for Kim Jong Il, who stressed that the naval promotion was the key to his nuclear weapons army.
Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators, who he called it “serious accidents and criminal acts caused by absolutely carelessness, irresponsible and unscientific empiricism” and called for a ruling Workers' Party meeting to resolve their “irresponsible mistakes,” KCNA said. The agency reported separately that a plenary session of the party’s powerful central committee is scheduled to take place in late June.
North Korean media did not say whether Wednesday's incident caused any harm.
The damaged ships could be unveiled with the country's first destroyers on April 25, and experts evaluated it as the largest and most advanced warship in the north to date. King believes it is an important asset to advance his goal of expanding the military's combat scope and nuclear strike capabilities.
State media said the ship was designed to handle a variety of weapon systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles with nuclear power. King also oversees missile tests for the destroyer, and state media said the ship is expected to pursue active service early next year.
South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff spokesman Lee Sung Joon said the damaged ship may have a similar system and is still collapsing at sea.
King has already put the accumulation of weapons as a response to the threat to the United States and its allies in Asia, who have been expanding joint military exercises as tensions in the North's nuclear program escalates. He said the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines would be his next important step in strengthening the navy.
External experts say the destroyer may have been built with the assistance of Russia. While North Korea's navy is considered inferior to South Korea, analysts still believe that destroyers are a serious security threat because it can enhance the country's offensive and defensive capabilities.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as Kim accelerated the development of his nuclear and missile programs and provided weapons and troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine. The United States, South Korea and its allies expressed concern that Moscow could reward by providing North Korea with advanced weapons technology, further enhancing the threat posed by its nuclear and missile programs.
