North Korea's second naval destroyer is damaged in a failed launch
attended by Kim
[May 22, 2025]
By KIM TONG-HYUNG and HYUNG-JIN KIM
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's second naval destroyer was
damaged in a failed launch this week, state media reported Thursday,
sparking fury from leader Kim Jong Un, who wants bigger warships to deal
with what he calls escalating U.S.-led threats against his country.
It's not common for North Korea to acknowledge military-related
setbacks, but observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch
suggests that Kim is serious about his naval advancement program and
confident of ultimately achieving that objective.
During a launching event at the northeastern port of Chongjin on
Wednesday, the newly built 5,000-ton-class destroyer became unbalanced
and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the
stern section slid off first and became stuck, according to the Korean
Central News Agency.
KCNA didn't provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of
the damage or whether anyone was injured.
According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military
officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a “serious accident and
criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and
unscientific empiricism." Kim called for a ruling Workers’ Party meeting
slated for late June to address their “irresponsible errors."
The destroyers are North Korea's most advanced warships
“It's a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the
incident is it wants to show it's speeding up the modernization of its
navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build" a
greater navy, said Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul’s
Hanyang University.
Moon suspected the incident likely happened because North Korean workers
aren't yet familiar with such a large warship and were rushed to put it
in the water.
The damaged vessel was likely the same class as the country’s first
destroyer unveiled last month, which experts assessed as North Korea's
largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim called the first vessel,
named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerilla fighter during the Japanese
colonial period — a significant asset for advancing his goal of
expanding the military’s operational range and nuclear strike
capabilities.
State media described that ship as designed to carry weapons systems
including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim said the
ship was expected to enter active duty early next year and later
supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship.
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A TV screen shows a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South
Korea, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Satellite photos show the partially submerged destroyer
Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff,
said Thursday that the damaged vessel was likely equipped with
similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea. An Associated
Press analysis of Planet Labs PBC images taken Thursday showed the
ship partially submerged on its side with tarpaulins draped over the
wreckage.
Earlier commercial satellite images indicated that the country was
building its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin.
Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Center for Strategic and
International Studies think tank, said the satellite imagery of
Chongjin’s Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in
the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under
construction.
A report by the North Korea-focused 38 North website assessed last
week that the destroyer in Chongjin was being prepared to be
launched sideways from the quay, a method that has been rarely used
in North Korea. The report said the previous destroyer launched at
the western shipyard of Nampo, in contrast, used a floating dry
dock.
South Korean officials and experts say the Choe Hyon destroyer was
likely built with Russian assistance as the two countries' military
partnerships are booming. While North Korea’s naval forces are
considered far inferior to those of its rivals, analysts say the
destroyer with nuclear-capable missiles and an advanced radar system
would still enhance the North's offensive and defensive
capabilities.
Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats
from the United States and South Korea, which have been expanding
joint military exercises in response to the North’s advancing
nuclear program. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered
submarine would be his next big step in strengthening the North
Korean navy.
Hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North
Korea test-fired multiple cruise missiles from an area about 300
kilometers (185 miles) south of Chongjin, according to South Korea's
military. The launches were a continuation of a streak of
weapons-testing activities by North Korea in recent years. South
Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were being analyzed
by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.
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