NewsHail
26 May 2025
North Korea has arrested three shipyard workers after a navy ship launch failed. The ship tipped over during the launch. This happened in front of leader Kim Jong-un.
The launch took place last Wednesday at a shipyard in Chongjin. A new 5,000-ton warship was being launched. The ship fell on its side instead of sliding smoothly into the water. Satellite photos showed it lying sideways. The bow was still on land. The back of the ship was in the water. Blue tarps covered the ship to hide it.
The arrested people include the shipyard’s top engineer, a workshop head, and a deputy manager. They are blamed for the accident. North Korea’s state news agency called the failed launch a "criminal act." Kim Jong-un said the workers acted with "carelessness and no science."
This was supposed to be the second launch of such a ship. The first one, in April, went well. That one used a dry dock at Nampo port.
Experts said the Chongjin shipyard may not have the right tools or skills. It normally builds smaller ships. Also, launching large ships sideways is hard. North Korea had never done this with warships before. Heavy weapons on the ship made the task even harder.
South Korea, which builds ships often, no longer uses the sideways method. It is seen as unsafe.
North Korea first said the ship had holes. Later, it said that was wrong. Now it says the ship got some scratches and water inside. The country says the damage can be fixed in about 10 days. They plan to pump out the water and set the ship straight.
Still, Kim Jong-un says the accident was serious. He said those responsible will be punished. A meeting next month may decide their fate.
North Korea rarely talks about such failures. But Kim has sometimes admitted mistakes and punished people.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a group in Washington, said the ship may never be used. They said the accident shows the shipyard was not ready for such a big project.
