North Korea’s Naval Destroyer Wrecked in Failed Launch, Kim Jong Un Furious

Satellite images have exposed a humiliating mishap for North Korea, as a 5,000-ton naval destroyer lies mangled after a disastrous launch attempt in Chongjin’s northeastern port. Captured by Maxar Technologies, the wreckage shows the warship twisted, partially submerged, and awkwardly lodged on a launch slip, a far cry from the regime’s intended display of military prowess. A blue tarp, North Korea’s feeble attempt at secrecy, now cloaks the embarrassment.

Before the fiasco, the destroyer gleamed with promise, poised for its maiden voyage. But a faulty flatcar derailed the ceremony, sending the ship crashing off balance, crushing its hull, and sliding ignominiously into the water. Kim Jong Un, reportedly seething, labeled the incident a 'criminal act' born of 'carelessness and irresponsibility,' pinning blame on military officials and shipyard workers.

The botched launch, meant to flex North Korea’s military muscle, instead became a global spectacle of failure. Kim, ever the volatile dictator, has demanded repairs before the Workers’ Party meeting in June, hinting at ominous repercussions for those responsible. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but the regime’s obsession with military might—evident in recent AI-powered drone tests and claims of nuclear submarine development—suggests this setback stings deeply.

North Korea’s broader military ambitions continue unabated. The regime recently deployed 15,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, with South Korea reporting 600 of them killed. For a nation that revels in secrecy and bravado, this public failure is a rare chink in Kim’s carefully crafted armor.