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Kim Jong Un-led North Korea detains officials over warship accident

The country’s leader Kim, who was present during the launch of the new warship, said the accident damaged the country’s dignity and vowed to punish those found responsible.

This satellite image provided by Airbus DS, shows a blue tarp covering a North Korean destroyer after it suffered a failed launch while it was being put to sea in Chongjin, North Korea. (Airbus DS via AP)

After North Korea’s second naval destroyer was damaged during its launch this week, the Kim Jong Un led country has detained the shipyard officials responsible for the accident, state media reported on Sunday.

The country’s leader Kim, who was present during the launch of the new warship, said the accident which damaged a 5,000-tonne warship actually damaged the country’s dignity and vowed to punish those found responsible for the incident.

The development of North Korea revealing its military-related setback isn’t common, but the revelation of warship damage indicated that Kim Jong Un is serious about naval advancement program and wants bigger warships to deal with US-led threats against his country.

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The mishap of the damaged warship, reported on Thursday by state media, occurred in front of a large crowd at the northeastern port of Chongjin which increased the public humiliation of leader Kim who was present to show off the country’s military capabilities.

Also Read | New North Korea warship gets damaged at its launch ceremony attended by Kim Jong Un

State media KCNA reported that as the investigation into the damage of the warship proceeded, the chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard among others was arrested by the law enforcement authorities.

Satellite images by US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) showed the extent of damage to the North Korean warship, wherein it showed the warship covered in blue tarps, lying on its side and the stern swung out into harbour. Kim has ordered the officials to restore the ship before a crucial meeting of the ruling party in June.

State media KCNA reported the rehabilitation plan of the damaged warship was being pushed ahead. KCNA further reported that the North Korean military forces “will thoroughly contain and control all sorts of military threats from the enemy countries,” against US military buildup in the region.

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The damaged destroyer, experts believe, is of the same class as the country’s first destroyer unveiled last month which experts assessed as North Korea’s largest and most advanced warship to date.

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