North Korea’s 5,000-ton destroyer sinks during launching (X @osc_london)
On May 21, a newly built 5,000-ton North Korean destroyer overturned and partly submerged during its launching ceremony at a shipyard located in the city of Chongjin.
The satellite imagery reveals the ship tilted towards its starboard side and partly underwater, with its hull obscured by tarps. The state agency reports this information.
KCNA
The accident occurred due to incorrect management of the launch supports, causing the aft section to detach too early. This resulted in the ship grounding and suffering structural harm.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, who was present at the event, referred to the incident as a “criminal act” resulting from “complete disregard,” and he insisted on the urgent resumption of operations of the vessel prior to the assembly of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party planned for June.
Kim emphasized that fixing the destroyer is a vital political issue closely linked to the nation’s reputation and standing.
This destroyer falls into the same category as the Choe Hyong (or Choi Hyun-ho) vessel commissioned earlier, equipped with both ballistic and cruise missiles, potentially including those armed with nuclear warheads. This initiative forms a key component of North Korea’s most significant naval buildup in recent times, designed to enhance the reach and striking capability of their fleet in reaction to perceived threats posed by the United States and allied nations under Kim Jong-un’s leadership.
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Source:
Militarnyi
/ Daily Mail | Photo: X @osc_london | This piece was crafted using AI assistance and vetted by our editorial team.