North Korea detained four officials who it alleged were responsible for the failed launch of its 5,000-ton-class naval destroyer, after Kim Jong Un condemned the incident, calling it criminal negligence. Earlier during its launch, Kim had hailed the construction of the warship as a breakthrough in modernising North Korea's naval forces.
Satellite imagery showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of it submerged. According to the North Korean account, the destroyer was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin.
North Korea says it will take about 10 days to repair the damage—a claim that has been questioned by outside observers who say that the damage is more than what the country has disclosed and it might take longer than 10 days to get it repaired.
The main military committee said Friday that those responsible would be held accountable for their unpardonable criminal act.
Satellite imagery showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of it submerged.
According to Korean Central News Agency, the severity of the damage was “not serious".
Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said the warship likely has flooding in its engine room located in the stern and holes in the starboard side. According to him, it is possible that North Korea may simply set the ship upright, paint it over and claim the ship has been launched, although repairs could take more than a year.
Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, said that North Korea's handling of the damaged warship could have long-term consequences for its defence science sector.
If scientists are held severely accountable, I would say the future of North Korea's defence science doesn't look very bright, as it would be a sign that political responsibility is being prioritised over technical accountability, Lee wrote on Facebook.
—With agency inputs