North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, visibly enraged, has committed to pursuing those accountable for the botched unveiling of his nation’s new warship, with severe consequences, including possible execution, awaiting them.
According to state-run media, a team of “relevant experts” is being assembled to initiate an investigation to identify the culprits – following Kim’s denouncement of the incident as a “criminal act.”
New satellite images showed the extent of the damages, with the not-so-menacing destroyer lying on its side and blue sheets covering it up.
Observers noted that a part of the vessel, reportedly constructed with assistance from Russian leader Vladimir Putin, seemed to still be on the shipway, while the remainder appeared to have inadvertently entered the water.
The furious dictator is now looking for a scapegoat to blame for the catastrophic ceremony which he was forced to watch with his own eyes.
Raging Kim deemed the failed launch a “criminal act” and blamed the mishap on “absolute carelessness” by multiple state institutions.
He added that the “irresponsible errors” of those involved will be dealt with.
Pyongyang said: “No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged.
“Those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime.
They added: “Regarding this accident as a serous matter is not because of the damage to the warship or economic loss.
“The aim of doing so is to deal a telling blow to incautiousness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricist attitude prevailing in any field and to sound an alarm bell.”
International relations expert Edward Howell told The Sun the two main reason for Kim Jong-un’s anger towards the disaster.
He said: “It’s an obstacle, nonetheless, to North Korea’s further development of its navy, the modernization of its navy and its broader military modernization.”
The expert said the second reason for the embarrassment was that it damaged the nation’s “sense of status and prestige”.
“All great powers have strong navies, and Kim Jong-un wants to make sure that North Korea isn’t left out in that regard,” he said.
It is currently unclear what punishment exactly the hermit kingdom’s leader will unleash upon those deemed at fault.
But the secretive nation’s history is plagued with stories of horrific punishments following slip-ups such as these.
In 2016, the North Korean leader had two senior officials killed in a public execution – as they were shot dead by anti-aircraft guns.
They were reportedly killed for making policy proposals that were seen as a direct threat to the tyrant’s leadership.
And in 2015 a former defence chief was executed for falling asleep during a military rally attended by Kim.
The manager of the Chongjin shipyard, Hong Kil Ho, has been summoned by law enforcers, according to state media, and is likely to be met with Kim’s wrath.
North Korea-watcher Andrei Lankov told NK News the fact that the event had been reported would probably mean harsh consequences for those found responsible.
He speculated: “It probably means North Korea is going to lose some of its best naval engineers.”
Reports say no casualties or injuries occurred as a result of the blunder in the port city of Chongjin on May 21.
Korea state media said: “The hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel.”
They said it would take around 10 days to restore the destroyer’s side, despite Kim demanding that everything be repaired by June.
The launch failure marked a huge setback for Kim, who has recently been ramping up naval modernization in a stark warning to the West.
Last month, the tyrant unveiled North Korea’s largest naval destroyer yet that could house a vertical launchpad capable of firing nuclear missiles.
Dubbed the Choe Hyon, it is believed to be the same 5,000-ton class ship as the one which spectacularly failed on Wednesday.
The mighty 5,000-tonne warship is expected to substantially boost North Korea’s naval capabilities.
North Korea’s state media – which also serves as Kim’s leading propaganda machine – reported that the vessel was equipped with the “most powerful weapons”.
The ship is named after anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter Choe Hyon, the report said.
And at over 5,000 tonnes, the destroyer is set to become the largest warship in North Korea’s naval arsenal, surpassing the current largest vessel, a 1,360-tonne frigate.
It was previously reported that North Korea’s new class of warship was able to accommodate dozens of vertical launch cells to carry missiles that its military has already developed.
Military analysts say these launchers will be capable of firing guided cruise missiles, which North Korea says could carry nuclear warheads.
Footage from North Korea’s state-run television KRT showed Kim arriving in Nampho with his daughter Ju Ae after travelling to the western port city by train.
Kim, in a speech from the launch reported by KCNA, said the warship would be handed over to the navy and go into service early next year.
But experts have since suggested that the colossal battleship cannot actually set sail without help.
Satellite images taken before and after the vessel’s debut ceremony suggest the ship was not able to move under its own power.
North Korea analyst Martyn William said: “The analysis is based on a couple of satellite images that show it being pushed around the port by tugs.
“It did not move under its own steam to either the launch ceremony or back to where it was being built.”
