North Korea has opened an investigation into a failed warship launch earlier this week after leader Kim Jong Un said the accident threatened the country’s dignity, state media reported.
On May 21, Kim was in attendance at a launch ceremony for a new naval destroyer when a “serious accident” occurred, the Korean Central News Agency reported.
The ship’s flatcar failed to move in parallel with the launch slide of the stern, KCNA said, citing “inexperienced command and operational carelessness.”
Kim warned that the accident, which occurred at the Chongjin Shipyard about 430 miles northeast of the capital city Pyongyang, was a criminal act, according to KCNA.
The North Korean leader also said the accident “brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse,” KCNA said.
Here’s what to know.
North Korea warship damage is ‘not serious,’ state media says
KCNA reported on May 23 that an internal inspection of the damaged warship found there were no holes at the bottom of the ship. However, the hull starboard was scratched and some water had flooded the stern, KCNA said.
“The extent of damage to the warship is not serious,” the report said.
According to Reuters, officials said the incident was caused by a loss of balance while the vessel was being launched, and sections of the bottom of the warship were crushed. South Korea’s military said the ship was lying on its side in the water.
It’s unclear if there were any injuries or deaths as a result of the accident.
KCNA also said the failed launch was an “unpardonable criminal act,” adding that “those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime.”
U.S. analysts: North Korea’s warship was ‘significantly damaged’
In a report on the failed warship launch, the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies analyzed satellite images of the destroyer after the accident.
CSIS said the images confirm that the destroyer was “significantly damaged” in the incident.
“The stern is seen swung out into the harbor as a result of the wheeled units placed under the frame sliding into the water while the bow remained on the side slipway,” CSIS’ report said.
The group also added that the site of the launch may have contributed to its failure — the Chongjin Shipyard has primarily produced smaller vessels, so it “undoubtedly lacks significant expertise in manufacturing and launching large warships such as the new destroyer,” CSIS said.
Contributing: Reuters
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Korea investigates naval destroyer accident
