Satellite Imagery Exposes Major Naval Mishap in North Korea; Kim Jong-un Calls Incident a "Criminal Act"

 North Korea May 23, 2025 – Chongjin, Newly released satellite images have revealed the full scale of a catastrophic accident at a North Korean naval shipyard that left a newly launched warship severely damaged—a failure that has drawn harsh condemnation from Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at the northeastern port city of Chongjin, where a 5,000-ton destroyer was undergoing launch operations. According to state media, Kim Jong-un was personally present during the event and denounced the mishap as a “criminal act” warranting strict accountability.

Satellite photos analyzed by experts and independent monitors show the warship listing heavily to one side. The bow remains on the slipway while the stern rests partially submerged in the harbor. Large blue tarps now cover the vessel, likely in an attempt to obscure the damage.

North Korean authorities attributed the accident to a loss of structural balance during the launch, which led to the crushing of sections of the ship’s underbelly. An initial inspection reported no breach in the hull, but confirmed extensive scratches along the starboard side and seawater ingress through a rear rescue channel.

Despite describing the overall damage as "not serious," state media outlet KCNA noted that an investigative task force had been formed to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable. No injuries or casualties have been reported.

According to military analysts, the failure—occurring in front of Kim Jong-un and an assembled crowd—has intensified the regime’s embarrassment. South Korea’s military corroborated the satellite imagery on Thursday, confirming that the ship remains tilted in the water.

“The stern appears to have swung into the harbor after the wheeled launch supports under the ship’s frame slipped during deployment,” said the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which reviewed satellite evidence. CSIS further noted that the Chongjin shipyard has historically produced civilian vessels and lacks experience in launching major naval assets, such as destroyers.

Efforts to recover the warship are already underway. KCNA cited expert assessments estimating two to three days to extract seawater from the flooded compartments and up to 10 days to repair the vessel’s starboard damage.

Treating the accident as a matter of national urgency, the North Korean regime has vowed to root out what it called "incautiousness" and "irresponsibility" within the shipyard’s management. Hong Kil Ho, director of the Chongjin shipyard, has reportedly been taken into custody for questioning as legal proceedings begin against those deemed culpable.