SEOUL: Several senior engineers in North Korea have been detained following a disastrous launch of a new warship, as reported by state media on Sunday.
The incident involving the 5,000-ton vessel transpired in front of leader Kim Jong Un, tarnishing the nation’s reputation. Kim has vowed to impose severe penalties on those at fault.
The mishap likely occurred before a large audience at the northeastern port of Chongjin, exacerbating the public embarrassment for Kim, who aims to showcase military strength, according to experts.
As the investigation deepens, authorities have arrested the chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard and others, as stated by the KCNA news agency.
Satellite images reveal the warship, covered in blue tarps, lying on its side, with its stern jutting into the harbor while the bow remains on the slipway, according to the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Kim has directed that the vessel be repaired before a ruling party meeting slated for June, and KCNA confirmed that restoration efforts are underway.
In response to the growing U.S. military presence in the region, North Korea’s armed forces have pledged to effectively counteract and manage all types of military threats from adversarial countries, as reported in a separate KCNA dispatch citing a policy chief from the defense ministry.
