Kim Jong Un furious after destroyer launch fails in front of him as 3 officials arrested

Three individuals have been apprehended in North Korea following the recent botched launch of a naval destroyer, an incident that leader Kim Jong Un attributed to criminal negligence, according to state media reports on Sunday.

The attempt to launch the 5,000-ton-class destroyer turned into a debacle 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 devolved into chaos due to a mishap during the launch process.

This comes as leader Kim Jong Un seeks larger warships to counter what he refers to as escalating U.S. threats against his country. The ship became unbalanced and sustained damage to its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and got stuck, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

• North Korean missile used to kill eight in Russian strike on Ukraine, Kyiv says 
• Taiwan to mass produce 'destructive' missile 

Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul's Hanyang University, speculated that the incident likely occurred because North Korean workers are not yet accustomed to such a large warship and were hurried to launch it.

Satellite images of the site revealed the vessel lying on its side and covered in blue tarps, with parts of the ship submerged. The vessel is North Korea's second known destroyer.

The failed launch was subsequently a source of embarrassment for Kim, who is keen to build larger naval forces to counter what he terms as U.S.-led military threats.

Intended to demonstrate military might, the event was overshadowed by chaos when the sequence of events went awry. Authorities have since apprehended the chief engineer, head of the hull construction workshop, and deputy manager for administrative affairs at Chongjin Shipyard, citing them as culprits for the botched launch on Wednesday, announced the official Korean Central News Agency.

The shipyard manager, Hong Kil Ho, had previously been called in for questioning, as was reported by KCNA. Kim condemned military officials, scientists, and shipyard personnel for what he labeled a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism."

The Central Military Commission of North Korea, reiterating Kim's stance, proclaimed Thursday that the parties involved "can never evade their responsibility for the crime."

Contradicting claims of significant damage to the warship, North Korea asserted that only minor scratching occurred on the hull's starboard side and a bit of seawater entered the stern. While repairs are estimated to take around 10 days, external experts speculate that the damages might be more extensive than North Korea admits.

The state broadcaster has noted the vessel's design encompasses systems capable of delivering nuclear-grade ballistic and cruise missiles.

Following expectations of the ship's operational status early the following year, Kim oversaw missile test launches from the warship. Inquiries into the mishap are still underway.