North Korea arrested individuals involved in the incident of the new destroyer that tipped over in front of Chairperson Kim Jong Un on the 21st.

On the 21st, North Korea holds a launching ceremony for a newly constructed 5000-ton (t) destroyer while Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, observes, but a significant accident occurs as the vessel fails to float properly and is severely damaged. The photo is a satellite image of the destroyer, which has completed construction and is preparing for its launch at the Chongjin Shipyard, taken on the 15th. /Courtesy of the Ministry of Unification

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 26th that the destroyer launch accident investigation team filed a report on the project status to the Central Military Commission the day before, stating, "Based on the investigation data, the legal agency summoned and arrested Ri Hyung Son, deputy director of the Military Industry Department of the Central Committee, who has significant responsibility for the serious accident."

According to the agency, efforts to completely restore the balance of the grounded destroyer are actively underway according to the planned schedule. Earlier, North Korea held a launch ceremony for a new 5,000-ton destroyer newly built at the Chongjin Shipyard, but during the launch process, the ship tipped over, resulting in some people falling into the water and damage to the hull.

Chairperson Kim Jong Un, who witnessed the incident, emphasized that it is "a serious major accident and a criminal act," and ordered the punishment of those involved and the restoration of the hull by June.

However, North Korea announced on the 23rd that the damage inspection results of the destroyer that capsized during the launch process are not as severe as initially reported. The agency stated, "As a result of underwater and internal inspections, contrary to the initial announcement, there is no bottom breach, and it was confirmed that the hull's starboard side was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flooded into the stern's structural passage."

Following Chairperson Kim's directives, North Korean authorities embarked on a campaign to tighten discipline across the organizations involved in the accident, arresting not only shipyard staff but also party officials in this incident.

On the 22nd, Hong Gil Ho, the director of the Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned by the legal agency, and on the 24th, officials of the shipyard, including Kang Jeong Cheol, the chief of the Chongjin Shipyard, Han Gyeong Hak, the head of the hull assembly workshop, and Kim Yong Hak, the deputy director of the administration, were arrested one after another.