In a rare public humiliation for North Korea’s tightly controlled regime, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un watched in person as the country’s second advanced Choe Hyon-class destroyer capsized during its launch at the Hambuk Shipyard in Chongjin. Satellite imagery confirms the 5,000-ton vessel is now lying on its side—a spectacle of military failure in full view of the world.
The Mishap: A Catastrophic Launch Failure
On May 22, the destroyer—touted as one of the most advanced ships in North Korea’s naval arsenal—tipped into the water sideways after a critical malfunction involving the stern-side launch sled. According to Korean Central Television, poor execution during the lateral launch caused the ship to take on water and suffer structural damage.
Despite efforts to cover up the damage with blue tarps, satellite images released by Maxar Technologies and Planet Labs exposed the failure in stark detail. Open-source analysts confirm the warship is still capsized near the dock, visibly damaged and awaiting recovery.
Kim Jong Un’s Fury: “Grave and Unacceptable”
In an unusually scathing rebuke, Kim called the incident a “serious criminal act,” blaming “incompetent command, carelessness, and unscientific empiricism.” His condemnation extended beyond technical fault to matters of “national dignity.” State media confirmed that Kim has ordered the destroyer to be fully restored before the June plenary session of the Workers’ Party, giving officials just weeks to correct what he sees as a catastrophic embarrassment.
He also reportedly demanded arrests of those responsible, with North Korea’s main military committee labeling the incident an “unpardonable criminal act.”
Strategic Context: A Blow to Kim’s Naval Ambitions
This capsized warship was the second in a new class of destroyers intended to carry nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. The first, successfully launched last month from the Nampo Shipyard, marked a major milestone for the reclusive state’s naval modernization efforts.
However, this failure casts doubt on:
-
North Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities
-
Its ability to project power in the region
-
The credibility of its naval-based missile platform strategy
With South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. intelligence closely monitoring the situation, the incident also highlights how quickly Pyongyang’s grandstanding can collapse into farce.
Damage Control: Regime Spins the Truth
North Korean media has since walked back earlier reports of serious damage, now claiming the hull sustained only “scratches” and minor flooding. Officials said the destroyer can be repaired in 10 days—a statement met with widespread international skepticism.
Bottom Line: An Authoritarian Meltdown at Sea
This humiliating episode is more than a technical failure—it’s a crack in the illusion of North Korean infallibility. As images of the capsized warship circulate globally, the world is reminded that even the most repressive regimes can’t hide incompetence from orbit.
For Kim Jong Un, whose power rests on a carefully cultivated image of military dominance, this disaster is both a strategic and symbolic defeat.