Three North Korean officials arrested after Kim Jong-Un's new warship sinks at launch

Three people have been arrested in North Korea after the recent failed launch of a naval destroyer, an incident that leader Kim Jong Un said was caused by criminal negligence, state media said Sunday.

The attempt to launch the 5,000-ton-class destroyer turned into a fiasco under the watchful eyes of Kim Jong-Un on Wednesday, May 21. The supreme leader was present for the grand unveiling of the vessel at the northeastern port of Chongjin but it quickly descended into chaos due to a blunder during the launch process.

It comes as leader Kim Jong Un wants bigger warships to deal with what he calls escalating U.S.-led threats against his country. The ship became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

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Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University suspected the incident likely happened because North Korean workers aren’t yet familiar with such a large warship and were rushed to put it in the water.

Satellite imagery on the site showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of the ship submerged. The vessel is North Korea’s second known destroyer. The failed launch was subsequently an embarrassment to Kim, who is eager to build greater naval forces to deal with what he calls U.S.-led military threats.

Meant to be a show of military strength, the event was marred by confusion when the sequence was botched. Now law enforcement authorities have detained the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop and deputy manager for administrative affairs at Chongjin Shipyard, who they said were responsible for Wednesday's failed launch, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Hong Kil Ho, the shipyard manager, also was summoned for questioning, KCNA previously reported.

Kim blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for what he called a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.” In an instruction to investigators Thursday, North Korea’s powerful Central Miliary Commission echoed Kim’s position, saying those responsible “can never evade their responsibility for the crime.”

North Korea denied the warship suffered major damage, saying the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater flowed into the stern section. North Korea said Friday it needed about 10 days to make repairs, but many outside observers said the country likely understated the damage.

State media said the ship is designed to carry weapons systems including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.