North Korea has reportedly arrested three senior officials following the failed launch of a much-vaunted 5,000-tonne destroyer that dramatically capsized during its maiden voyage. Intended to mark a significant advance in naval capabilities, the warship keeled over in front of an assembled crowd, including the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un. The incident, which state media have unusually acknowledged, prompted an official investigation and swift arrests.
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Among those detained are the shipyard’s chief engineer, the head of the hull construction workshop, and a deputy manager responsible for administrative affairs. Kim Jong Un condemned the blunder as a “criminal act” that severely undermined North Korea’s national pride and international image. He described the event as an example of “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism”, and vowed that those responsible would be punished.
Although details of potential penalties remain vague, international observers have raised concerns given North Korea’s track record of harsh and opaque punitive measures, often involving labour camps or indefinite detention for those found guilty of misconduct. The dictator’s rhetoric suggests the matter is being treated not just as a technical failure but as an ideological affront.
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The vessel, now visible in satellite images lying on its side and shrouded in blue tarpaulins, is reportedly undergoing repairs. State-run news agency KCNA sought to downplay the embarrassment, claiming superficial damage to the hull as the cause, though earlier reports indicated structural faults may have allowed flooding. Kim has demanded the ship be restored in time for a key political meeting scheduled for June.
