Far East: North Korea’s Warship-gate Ends with Officials’ Arrests
kim jong un inspecting a newly build submarine. kcna/kns via Reuters.
A major blunder on a high-stakes day would be a nightmare in any profession, but for the three to four senior North Korean officials reportedly detained after the country’s new warship capsized at launch, the consequences are likely to be far more severe.
On May 21st, North Korea was set to launch its new Choe Hyon-class destroyer. The 5,000-tonne destroyer has been docked at a shipyard in Chongjin, at the northeastern corner of the country, where it was meant to debut as the country’s major effort to modernize its Soviet-era naval fleet.
By now, it has become clear that a mishap occurred during the launch, with the ship capsizing and crashing into the water. As all of these events unfolded, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was said to immediately condemn his officials for their “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.”
As those officials condemned were being detained, latest satellite images have shown updates on the capsized ship, showing a rapid restoration process, reflecting its leader’s dream of modernizing the North Korean naval fleet in the face of more diplomatic confrontation with South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. in the upcoming years.
‘Absolute Carelessness’
Before the launch, the unnamed destroyer was docked in the port city of Chongjin. It was intended as a centerpiece of Kim Jong Un’s push to modernize North Korea’s naval fleet, which until now has largely relied on aging Soviet-era vessels.
Kim was said to be disdainful of the conditions of his naval fleet, which is in stark contrast to the nuclear-powered submarines and warships of the U.S. and South Korea. As such, in recent years, North Korea has seen an exponential increase in nuclear-armed weaponry. Most of it, however, is land-based, and the country’s naval fleet remains significantly behind.
This Choe Hyon-class destroyer, therefore, was meant to be something more than a debut; it was meant to be a revolution, something Kim could use to boost his country’s morale from the dire food shortages that had put most of the country’s populace into malnutrition.
Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Ju Ae, attending the warship launch ceremony. str/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images.
After the incident, Kim was later quoted that this “brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse” and that he vows to bring the vessel to be fully restored before a key party meeting later this month, according to the state media.
The Latest Status
According to multiple satellite images, the destroyer was seen to have been put into an upright position after the incident. According to reports, the destroyer tipped sideways into the sea during its launch. In an image captured on May 29th, the vessel can be seen in the midst of recovery operations. Experts said that the recovery operation was likely to be conducted manually with workers who could be seen pulling ropes to pull up the vessel, onwards to the dock with the help of floating balloons to keep the ship level.
This satellite image from May 29th shows balloons and personnel near the destroyer. Via Airbus DS 2025.
Meanwhile, reports have circulated that several officials have also been arrested for this launch failure. The Pyongyang Times has reported that the act these officers committed was a “criminal act” and that this “could not be tolerated.” The situation got so dire that even Kim himself admitted that it was like a “slap in the face” for him.
Although it is difficult to tell what their punishment will be, last year, it was reported that North Korean officials were shot to death over floods.
Now that the destroyer has been righted, North Korea observers believe it will undergo repairs, with the vessel likely needing to be moved to either a large floating dry dock or a graving dock, depending on whether it is already afloat. However, such facilities are reportedly not available at Chongjin’s shipyard.
What Are the Drawbacks?
The reaction to the accident was swift and critical, undermining North Korea’s ongoing psychological warfare efforts on the Korean Peninsula. A spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff commented on the launch failure on the same day it occurred.
The ship was meant to impose fears on North Korea’s neighbors, which will have to rethink their approach to mitigate naval confrontation should the country widely upgrade its destroyers. Pyongyang itself already possesses long-range missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland, so enhancing naval superiority is the logical choice to provoke more fears and uncertainties in the region.
Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, gave comments that “by showcasing the naval vessels despite limited operational capabilities, North Korea is signaling intention to focus on bolstering offensive maritime capabilities.”
"Concerns have intensified as North Korea deepens its military ties with Russia, most notably through reports of North Korean troops being deployed to support Russian operations in Ukraine. This Choe Hyon-class destroyer was also reported to carry Russian-made air-defense systems. South Korea’s navy has also suggested that Russia may have played a pivotal role in the development of the destroyer, though it declined to specify the exact nature of Moscow’s involvement.
A North Korean destroyer testing one of its anti-aircraft systems. Agence France-Presse via Getty Images.
Despite the failed launch, North Korea’s military capabilities should not be underestimated. The region remains highly volatile, with rising geopolitical tensions, the possibility of new trade sanctions, and the ongoing trade war between the United States and China making East Asia one of the most tense and strategically significant areas in the world today.