Kim Jong-un issued a stern warning after a North Korean naval destroyer capsized during its launch ceremony on Wednesday.
The North Korea leader watched on as the 5,000-ton warship was "severely damaged after failing to launch properly," according to state media reports.
Kim was furious about the incident and declared it a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness" as he warned it "could not be tolerated".
The incident was described as a "serious accident" by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which confirmed the mishap occurred during what should have been a ceremonial unveiling.
The North Korea leader watched on as the 5,000-ton warship was "severely damaged after failing to launch properly," according to state media reports
Reuters
The North Korean leader showed visible displeasure at the blunder, stating: "This is a serious accident and criminal act that could not have happened and could not be tolerated due to pure carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism," according to KCNA.
State media provided details of what went wrong during the launch.
KCNA explained: "Due to immature command and operational negligence, the parallel movement of the bogies could not be guaranteed, resulting in the launching sled in the stern detaching first and causing the ship to capsize."
The agency added that "the ship's balance was destroyed due to a rupture in the hull in some sections, and the bow section was unable to detach from the keel."
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Kim has ordered the immediate restoration of the damaged destroyer, insisting it must be completed "unconditionally before the June plenary session of the Central Committee of the Party".
He framed the repair as more than just a practical matter: "The urgent restoration of the destroyer is not a simple practical issue, but a political issue directly related to the authority of the country."
The capsized vessel appears to be of the same class as the 5,000-ton destroyer Choi Hyun-ho that North Korea successfully launched last month.
In April, Kim unveiled a nuclear-capable naval destroyer at the western port of Nampo, accompanied by his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae.
Satellite image shows the new North Korean warship at harbour before launch, in Chongjin
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The ceremony for that vessel went smoothly, with Jo Chun Ryong, a secretary in the ruling Workers' party, claiming the ship was equipped with "the most powerful weapons" and was built "within 400-odd days".
The new warship was described as a "multi-purpose" destroyer designed to handle various arms, including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.
Kim said the vessel would "bolster efforts to expand the operational range and preemptive strike capabilities of his nuclear-armed military".
It was touted as the first in a new class of heavily armed warships, with plans for it to be handed over to the navy early next year before beginning active duty.
