Launch of New DPRK Destroyer Ends in Devastating Mishap

(MENAFN) A "serious accident" took place during the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launch of a new 5,000-ton destroyer on Wednesday, as reported by a news agency on Thursday.

The mishap took place at the Chongjin Shipyard during the vessel's launch ceremony. According to the new agency’s report, the stern's launch slide detached prematurely, causing the flatcar to fail in moving the ship in parallel. This led to part of the warship's bottom being damaged, disrupting the ship’s balance and preventing the bow from leaving the shipway. The incident was attributed to "the inexperienced command and operational carelessness."

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the DPRK's State Affairs, delivered a harsh assessment after witnessing the event, calling it "a serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which is out of the bounds of possibility and could not be tolerated."

The accident "brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse in a moment," Kim said. He further emphasized that the careless mistakes of those involved would be addressed during the upcoming plenary meeting of the WPK Central Committee next month.

Kim emphasized that the prompt repair of the destroyer is "not just a practical matter, but a political issue that directly impacts the authority of the state" and must be finished unconditionally before the June Plenary Meeting of the Party Central Committee.

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