New Satellite Imagery Reveals North Korean Warship Damage Post-Accident

Satellite images have unveiled the extent of damage to a North Korean warship following a shipyard accident. Leader Kim Jong Un condemned the incident as a "criminal act," and an investigation has begun to assess accountability and consequences.

New satellite images have shed light on a recent mishap involving a North Korean warship, presenting significant damage at a shipyard where the incident occurred in the presence of Kim Jong Un. The photos depict the warship tilted on its side and draped in large blue tarpaulins, with parts of the vessel seemingly on dry land.

State media reported on the investigation into the incident, which Kim described as a "criminal act." Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or casualties linked to the accident that took place on Thursday in the eastern port city of Chongjin.

Though the North Korean official news agency, KCNA, downplayed the damage in its Friday report, it acknowledged that the hull's starboard side had been scratched, allowing some seawater to infiltrate through the rescue channel. The shipyard manager, Hong Kil Ho, has reportedly been summoned by law enforcement to answer for the incident.

According to KCNA, repairs on the destroyer's side are expected to take about ten days. Kim attributed the accident to "absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism." He warned that those who made "irresponsible errors" face potential repercussions during a plenary meeting next month, although specific punishments remain uncertain amidst North Korea's strict human rights track record.

Public disclosure of such local incidents is rare for North Korea, which has only happened a few times before. This event follows shortly after the unveiling of a similar 5,000-ton destroyer called the Choe Hyon, which Kim praised as a significant advancement in the modernization of the North Korean navy, with plans for its deployment in the early part of the coming year.