NewsHail
25 May 2025
North Korea has kept three shipyard workers after a problem during the launch of a new warship on Wednesday, state news said.
The bottom of the 5,000-ton destroyer got crushed during the launch. This made the ship tip over.
The leader, Kim Jong Un, called this a "criminal act." They are still looking into what happened.
KCNA, North Korea’s news agency, said the three held are the chief engineer, the head of building, and a manager. They work at the Chongjin shipyard in the north.
The news said these three were "responsible for the accident."
On Friday, KCNA said the shipyard manager, Hong Kil Ho, was called by the police.
Satellite pictures showed the ship lying on its side with big blue covers. Part of the ship looked like it was on land.
North Korea’s news did not say if anyone got hurt. They made the damage seem small.
KCNA said there were no holes in the ship’s bottom, which was different from first reports.
"The right side of the hull was scratched. Some seawater got into the back part," the news said.
Kim said on Thursday that the accident was due to "carelessness, irresponsibility, and wrong methods."
He said those who made "bad mistakes" will be punished at a meeting next month.
It is not clear what the punishment will be. North Korea is known for having poor human rights.
It is rare for North Korea to share news about accidents like this. But it has done so a few times before.
This accident happened weeks after North Korea showed another 5,000-ton destroyer, called the Choe Hyon.
Kim called that ship a "big step" to modernize the navy. He said it will be ready next year.
