Naval fiasco: Kim Jong Un orders arrests after destroyer blunder
In North Korea, four individuals, including a close associate of Kim Jong Un, were arrested following an accident during the launch of a Choe Hyon-class destroyer. The damaged vessel is currently deemed unfit for service.
According to "Business Insider," during the launch ceremony at the Chongjin shipyard on the country's eastern coast, the transport platform failed to move. Consequently, the stern of the ship slipped and became jammed on the slipway, damaging the hull. The entire event was broadcast on North Korean state television.
Kim Jong Un described the incident as an "unforgivable crime", attributing it to "absolute negligence, irresponsibility, and an unscientific approach." An immediate investigation into the accident was launched.
According to the South Korean newspaper "Korea JoongAng Daily," the chief engineer of the shipyard was arrested, along with the hull construction manager, administrative manager, and Ri Hyong Son.
Ri, a member of Kim Jong Un's inner circle, serves as the deputy director of the Defence Industry Department in the Workers' Party of Korea and is a member of the Central Military Commission overseeing the army.
Expert directly on Jong Un's decision
A North Korea expert at Washington's Stimson Center, Michael Madden, told the BBC that Kim Jong Un's reaction highlights the "high priority" the regime places on developing the navy.
He suggested that the accident might have happened due to an attempt to manage too many tasks simultaneously, with staff and production teams facing intense pressure to meet all demands.
The disaster occurred just a few weeks after North Korea showcased a similar warship in another part of the country.
It should be noted that a few weeks ago, three North Korean residents were executed by firing squad following an unsuccessful attempt to escape to South Korea. Their bodies were publicly burned to intimidate the local community.
The men, including two brothers and their friend, set out from South Hwanghae Province towards the south of the Korean Peninsula. The weather thwarted their plan. In dense fog, believing they had reached South Korea, they called for help, thinking that a South Korean fishing boat was approaching. However, it turned out to be a North Korean patrol boat. The escapees were subsequently arrested.
