North Korea’s Leader Denounces Warship Mishap as “Criminal Act”

(MENAFN) North Korea revealed on Thursday that a serious mishap took place a day earlier during the launch ceremony of a new warship, as reported by a North Korean news outlet.

The event unfolded in the eastern port of Chongjin, where a 5,000-ton destroyer was being introduced. During the launch, the rear of the vessel advanced ahead of the front, resulting in structural damage and preventing the ship from completely exiting the shipway.

The outlet blamed the mishap on “inexperience” and “operational carelessness.”

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who attended the ceremony, denounced the incident as a “criminal act” caused by “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” emphasizing that the situation had crossed acceptable boundaries.

The destroyer had been intended to serve as a major enhancement to North Korea’s naval fleet, representing a bold move in the country’s military shipbuilding initiatives. Instead, the botched launch has triggered high-level internal backlash.

This comes as North Korea intensifies efforts in naval advancement, recently showcasing new military equipment amid escalating regional tensions.

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