Big Trouble in North Korea: Top Official Arrested After Warship Launch Fails
Kim Jong Un Orders Arrests as New Navy Ship Tips Over During Launch
There is serious drama in North Korea as a senior government official, Ri Hyong-son, has been arrested after a new warship launch ended in disaster. The failed launch has put the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, in a very bad mood.
According to North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, Ri Hyong-son, who is the deputy director of the ruling party’s Munitions Industry Department, was “largely responsible for the serious accident” that happened last week. The brand new 5,000-ton destroyer—the pride of North Korea’s navy—tipped over and damaged its hull during the launch.
Kim Jong Un did not hide his anger. He called the incident a “criminal act” that “severely damaged the country’s dignity and pride.” He blamed the disaster on “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.”
It was gathered that the damaged warship is now being repaired by a group of experts. However, this accident has already led to the arrest of four top officials. Apart from Mr. Ri, three other officials from the Chongjin shipyard—the chief engineer, the construction head, and an administrative manager—were also detained over the weekend.
In North Korea, such mistakes can have very serious consequences. The country is known to punish officials found guilty of big errors with forced labour or even death.
Analysts say Kim’s quick and harsh response is a way to show that he is still serious about building up North Korea’s military. According to a security expert, Chun In-bum, “With this new line of ships, North Korea seems to intend on challenging the sovereignty of the South in earnest.”
Another expert, Michael Madden, said the accident may have happened because officials were “trying to do too much at once.” He added that there was a lot of pressure on the workers to finish the ship quickly.
This is not the first time North Korea has faced embarrassment over failed launches, but it is rare for them to talk about it openly. The failed warship was supposed to be a “breakthrough” for the navy, but now it has become a big problem for Kim Jong Un and his government.
As repairs continue, many are watching to see what punishment the arrested officials will face and whether North Korea can recover from this setback.
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