In a dramatic turn of events highlighting North Korea’s zero-tolerance stance on military failure, four senior officials have been arrested and reportedly face execution following the failed launch of a major warship. The vessel—a 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer—capsized during its side-launch on May 21, 2025, at the Chongjin Shipyard, in full view of the nation’s leader, Kim Jong Un.
Why the Launch Was Important
The destroyer was a cornerstone of North Korea’s ongoing efforts to modernize its naval forces. As part of Pyongyang’s broader five-year military development plan, this launch marked what state media had described as a “breakthrough” in the country’s ability to project power beyond its coastal waters. The Choe Hyon-class destroyer was intended to bolster North Korea’s capacity for long-range operations, including maritime
surveillance and missile deployment, in a region marked by increasing U.S. and South Korean military activity.
Analysts say the destroyer would have represented a significant leap in capability, potentially rivaling older South Korean or Japanese warships in scale, if not in sophistication. Its failure not only embarrassed the regime domestically and internationally, but also potentially disrupted North Korea’s timeline for expanding its blue-water navy.
North Korea Reaction and Official Stance
Immediately following the botched launch, Kim Jong Un condemned the incident as a “criminal act,” according to North Korean state media. He accused those responsible of “carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism.” In a rare rebuke, Kim blamed the use of an outdated and risky side-launch method for the destroyer’s
capsizing—suggesting that the method had been used without proper consideration of the ship’s tonnage and the structural weaknesses at the launch site.
North Korean authorities arrested four key individuals linked to the project:
Ri Hyong Son: Deputy Director of the Munitions Industry Department, Kang Jong Chol: Chief Engineer at Chongjin Shipyard, Han Kyong Hak: Head of the Hull Workshop and Kim Yong Hak: Deputy Manager of the shipyard
Reports suggest these individuals will face execution, although no official confirmation has been issued.
Also Read: Kim Jong Un Explodes in Rage as $5bn Warship Crashes at Launch
Broader Implications
The incident adds to a growing pattern of high-profile purges in North Korea’s defense and industrial sectors. It also underscores the challenges facing Kim Jong Un’s regime as it tries to modernize its military under heavy international sanctions and limited access to advanced technology.
Despite the setback, North Korea remains publicly committed to its military expansion. State media emphasized that the failure would be “thoroughly investigated” and that new guidelines for naval construction and launch methodology would be implemented.
In the meantime, the Chongjin Shipyard remains under heavy scrutiny, with further disciplinary actions expected. The failed launch serves as a grim reminder of the stakes in North Korea’s military-industrial complex—and the harsh consequences for those deemed to have failed the Supreme Leader.
