Seoul, Korea
CNN
–
North Korea’s latest warship was seriously damaged at a launch ceremony on Wednesday, and state leader Kim Jong, who witnessed the accident, has vowed to shame the country’s fame and punish those responsible, state media reported.
In a rare tolerance of failure, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that a malfunction in the launch mechanism caused the stern of an unknown 5,000-ton destroyer to slip into the water early, crushing parts of the hull, leaving the bow tied to the ship.
Kim called the launch failure “criminal act,” and condemned it as “absolute carelessness” and “irresponsible,” including several state agencies (such as Kim Chek University of Technology, Central Ship Design Bureau).
The ship is lying underwater, according to South Korea’s military analysis, spokesman for the Chief (JCS) Lee Sang-Jong said at a press conference Thursday.
Navy analysts said the damage caused by such launch malfunctions could be “catastrophic.” State media did not immediately release images of the accident.
“If the ship doesn’t move together, stress tears the hull,” Sal Melcogliano, a maritime expert and professor at Campbell University in North Carolina, told CNN.
Hawaii’s naval analyst Carl Schuster said he believes that “depending where the biggest stress falls, stress will “distort the hull, induce cracks, and (probably) snap the keel.”
The launch failure marks a setback for what analysts have seen as North Korea’s most ambitious naval modernization effort in decades.
The vessel was to become the second major naval surface vessel quickly revealed in succession by North Korea. In April, Kim announced Cho Ha-ion, the first newly constructed destroyer in decades, and declared his ambition to build more destroyers and various cruisers and frigates.
Called the “new generation” warship, Cho Ha-ion has been presented with a key fanfare with state media, saying that Pyongyang will step up naval preparation amid what it calls a rise in threats from the US and South Korea.
Western defense analysts noted that Cho Ha-ion marked a deviation from the aging Soviet-era ship that controlled the Korean navy. Although details remain rare, satellite images and footage suggest that Cho Ha-ion can share design elements with similar Russian naval vessels.
Lee, a spokesman for the South Korean military, said the vessel that was damaged on Wednesday is believed to be equipped like Cho Heeong.
Wednesday’s incident could raise questions about the country’s ability to expand its navy. Kim said the damages will be addressed through political accountability, not just technical repairs.
He ordered the destroyers to be restored before the Ruling Workers’ Party meeting in late June, calling the issue one of the national honors.
However, given the extent of the potential damage, the analyst said it would be nearly impossible to meet Kim’s deadline.
Retired South Korean Kim Duk Ki told CNN that North Korea appears to have no infrastructure needed to launch a 5,000-ton destroyer.
A dry dock is a basin facility where you can fill up with water and float a boat, drain it for construction or repair.
“Dry docks are expensive facilities and North Korea probably doesn’t have facilities. It’s easy to repair a ship with a dry dock after draining the water, but there are no facilities,” the retired admiral said.
South Korean lawmaker and defense analyst Yoo Yong Wang said running through the ship’s launch could lead to problems he encountered Wednesday, and rushing repairs could cause more problems.
Schuster said repairs would likely take months rather than weeks if possible.
An accident investigation group has been established and senior officials could face condemnation at future party central committee meetings, KCNA accounts reported.
North Korean navy is often considered the least developed branch of the military. The rushing pace of destroyer development has surprised some external observers, raising questions about how much of the technology is functional and symbolic.
US professor Melcogliano said it is unclear whether Pyongyang’s new warship even has an engine, as state media has not provided any ongoing images.
