Satellite images reveal North Korea’s attempt to hide a capsized destroyer after a failed launch in front of leader Kim Jong-un.
North Korea hides warship with tarp after launch failure
New satellite images reveal that North Korea has covered a sunken warship with blue tarpaulin, following an embarrassing launch failure attended by Kim Jong-un.
The vessel, a 5,000-ton destroyer, capsized during its debut ceremony at the port of Nampo.
It had been intended as a symbol of Pyongyang’s growing naval ambitions.
However, the event quickly turned into a public disaster.
While,Images taken on Thursday show the ship lying on its side next to the dock, partially submerged.
Blue tarps appear to have been used to conceal the wreckage.
The event is now being called one of the most humiliating setbacks for North Korea’s navy in recent memory.
Kim Jong-un furious after witnessing bungled warship capsizing
After the incident, Kim Jong-un reacts with fury. He called the warship’s launch disaster a criminal act driven by carelessness
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that a “serious accident” occurred during the launch ceremony on Wednesday.
Kim Jong-un, who witnessed the incident in person, was reportedly furious.
He called the failure a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.”
‘This is a serious accident and criminal act that could not have happened and could not be tolerated due to pure carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism’, Kim was quotes as saying.
Additionally, he ordered the damaged destroyer to be urgently restored before June. He saw it not merely as a technical issue, but as a matter of political authority.
He continued: ‘The urgent restoration of the destroyer is not a simple practical issue, but a political issue directly related to the authority of the country.’
‘It must be completed unconditionally before the June plenary session of the Central Committee of the Party’, he added.
While, the leader warned officials that delays or excuses would not be tolerated.
The destroyer capsized due to launch failure and hull defects
According to KCNA, the launching sled at the stern detached prematurely, throwing the ship off balance.
Additionally, the bow failed to release from the keel, resulting in the ship tipping onto its side and suffering a ruptured hull in several sections.
“Due to immature command and negligence, the ship’s parallel movement failed,” KCNA said.
South Korea’s military confirmed that the destroyer remains toppled and damaged, and it is likely equipped with **nuclear-capable cruise and ballistic missiles. These weapons were a central feature of the destroyer’s design.
It is rare for North Korea to admit military failures.
Analysts believe the regime’s transparency signals Kim’s desperation to modernize his military despite ongoing setbacks.
“This incident shows North Korea is pushing forward with navy upgrades despite a lack of readiness,” said Moon Keun-sik, a naval expert at Hanyang University.
He added that inexperience with large warships and rushed engineering may have contributed to the catastrophic launch failure.
The vessel, built in roughly 400 days, was likely handled by crews unfamiliar with its scale.
Kim Jong-un’s military expansion counters U.S.-South Korea defense
In April, Kim unveiled a nearly identical destroyer dubbed Choi Hyun-ho. It is equipped to carry nuclear-capable missiles and operate as a multi-purpose strike vessel.
These ships are designed to project power and respond preemptively to perceived U.S. threats.
Kim continues to criticize U.S.–South Korea military exercises.
He accused them of escalating regional tension and preparing for war.
Additionally, he has vowed to respond to what he calls a “geopolitical crisis” with decisive military developments.
“This destroyer represents our commitment to defending against aggression,” Kim stated.