Kim Jong Un calls North Korea\u2019s destroyer launch failure a \u201ccriminal act\u201d and promises accountability<\/p>\n
Pyongyang
\nNorth Korea\u2019s second naval destroyer sustained damage during a failed launch attempt this week, state media reported on Thursday.
\nAccording to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the launch failure, caused by \u201cinexperienced command and operational carelessness,\u201d resulted in parts of the hull being crushed and the vessel\u2019s balance disrupted.
\nKim Jong Un, who witnessed the event, labelled the incident a \u201ccriminal act\u201d and blamed multiple state institutions, including the Munitions Industry Department and Kim Chaek University of Technology, for the failure.
\nHe vowed that those responsible would face consequences at the upcoming plenary session of the Workers\u2019 Party.
\nIn a separate development, South Korea\u2019s military reported that North Korea launched multiple unidentified cruise missiles towards the East Sea on the same day, further escalating tensions in the region.
\nThe mishap occurred during a \u201cside-launch\u201d attempt of the destroyer, a method now considered obsolete by South Korea\u2019s military.
\nExperts believe the vessel may have been designed similarly to the Choe Hyon, North Korea\u2019s first newly constructed destroyer, unveiled in April.
\nThe failed launch has raised questions about North Korea\u2019s capacity to scale its naval operations.
\nAnalysts also speculate that the vessel could have been developed with assistance from Russia, as the proximity of Chongjin to Russia\u2019s Vladivostok port raises concerns about potential collaboration.
\nKim Jong Un has ordered the rapid restoration of the warship, setting a tight deadline before the Workers\u2019 Party plenary session in June, although experts suggest that the damage may take months to repair.
\nNorth Korea\u2019s navy, often viewed as underdeveloped, faces further scrutiny regarding the functionality of its new warships.
\nThe incident has prompted the formation of an investigation group, with senior officials potentially facing disciplinary action.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kim Jong Un calls North Korea\u2019s destroyer launch failure a \u201ccriminal act\u201d and promises accountability Pyongyang North Korea\u2019s second naval destroyer sustained damage during a failed launch attempt this week, state media reported on Thursday. According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the launch failure, caused by \u201cinexperienced command and operational carelessness,\u201d resulted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":480259,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-480233","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n