North Korea's naval mishap: Kim Jong Un's rare public rebuke
On May 22, 2025, an accident occurred during the launch of a type 74 destroyer for the North Korean navy. The ship was damaged, and Kim Jong Un decided to comment on the matter, marking the first instance of such a public reaction in history.
During the launch, the stern section of the hull fell onto the port's concrete superstructure, causing the bottom to be crushed and affecting the ship's balance. The event was witnessed by Kim Jong Un himself, along with a large crowd of individuals associated with the regime.
Kim quickly denounced the accident as a crime in the media, prompting an investigation to identify those responsible for the negligence. The North Korean state news agency (KCNA) also swiftly reported on the incident.
"Due to inexperienced command and operational carelessness, the parallel movement of the bogies could not be guaranteed, resulting in the launching sled in the stern detaching first and causing the ship to capsize. The ship’s balance was destroyed due to a rupture in the hull in some sections, and the bow section was unable to detach from the keel."
Furthermore, the ship is to be repaired within a month, although, judging from available satellite images of the incident and descriptions of the damage according to KCNA, it will likely take much longer. This is very unusual for North Korea, which has so far tried to conceal all accidents.
The Choe Hyon ship — North Korean imitation of AEGIS system destroyers
The damaged ship is the second unit of type 74, also known as the Choe Hyon class ships. These destroyers have a displacement of 5,000 tonnes, a length of about 140 metres, and a width of 16 metres based on satellite image analysis.
The ships of the DPRK are an attempt to replicate American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, relying mainly on Russian technology obtained through very generous military assistance.
The armament of the North Korean units is expected to include a bow gun likely measuring 127 mm or 130 mm, vertical launch systems (74 cells of various sizes) designed for anti-aircraft, cruise, or anti-ship missiles.
Additionally, they are equipped with two six-barrel AK-630 point defense systems guided by radar, two torpedo launchers, four anti-tank guided missile launchers Bulsae, and one Pantsir-M system. The ship is also equipped with radars on the superstructure.
