North Korea New Destroyer Severely Damaged in Botched Chongjin Launch

North Korea's newest 5,000-ton naval destroyer was severely damaged during a botched launch at the Chongjin Shipyard, an incident witnessed by leader Kim Jong Un who harshly criticized those responsible. The launch malfunction caused the ship's stern to slide prematurely, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the vessel stranded and lying on its side in the water, which naval experts warn could cause catastrophic structural damage. Kim condemned the failure as a "criminal act" resulting from "absolute carelessness," blaming multiple state institutions and promising severe repercussions at an upcoming party meeting. This setback undermines North Korea's ambitious naval modernization agenda, which recently included unveiling new destroyers and ballistic missile submarines aimed at projecting maritime power beyond its waters. Despite the embarrassment, Kim emphasized that restoring the ship is tied to national pride and urged workers to demonstrate patriotic commitment to repairs. The incident marks an unusual public admission of failure from Pyongyang’s state media and highlights challenges in achieving its military advancement goals.