North Korea’s Rare Failure In Military Modernization – Analysis
In a rare failure of military modernisation, the newly built 5,000-ton-class destroyer by North Korea was damaged at a launch event on 21 May 2025 at the north-eastern port of Chongjin. North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that the warship 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 North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency. The KCNA did not provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of the damage or whether anyone was injured.
The 21 May launch was meant to be a signature event for supreme leader Kim Jong Un, signaling North Korea progress toward building a blue water navy. He was presiding over the launch when the ship tipped sideways after an attempted “side launch” from the dock side that left one side of the hull submerged. Just a day later, state media reported his angry reaction, calling it a “grave and unacceptable accident” and a “serious criminal act.” It was a humiliating setback to him. Naval modernization and nuclear armament remain central pillars of Kim Jong Un’s military agenda.
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, watched the country’s newest destroyer capsize during its launch. The 470-foot-long vessel, the biggest class of warships Pyongyang ever built, and where Kim was stationed during the incident was an embarrassing military failure. Experts say a technique used to manoeuvre the ship into the water sideways was part of the problem.
As expected, Kim Jong-un vented fury at the military and other officials as he wanted bigger warships to deal with what he calls escalating US-led threats against his country, amid a long-simmering standoff over his nuclear weapons. Kim fumed and termed the launch incident as “absolute carelessness”.
It is rather unusual for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks or accidents. The disclosure this time meant Kim is serious about his naval advancement program and confident of ultimately achieving that objective.
Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a “serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.” He called for a ruling Workers’ Party meeting slated for late June to address their “irresponsible errors.”
The reason why Kim disclosed the failure was a bit surprising. He probably wanted to convey the message to the world that he is keen to modernise his country’s naval forces and express confidence that he can eventually build a greater navy. It is possible that the mishap occurred because North Korean workers were not familiar in handling with such a large warship and was rushed to put it in the water.
The shipyard was once known for building ships like the 9,500-ton Mangyongbong-92, a cargo and passenger ferrywhich launched in 1971. Butit has not launched large-scale vessels like that in decades. During Kim Jong Un’s rule, the yard had pivoted toward production of military assets like submarines and torpedo craft. The shipyard used to be capable of building cargo ships before economic collapse in 1990s. But after the economic collapse, they did not build larger ships. With the retirement of older engineers, additionally the new generation lacked the experience for this kind of operation.
The damaged vessel was likely the same class as the country’s first destroyer unveiled in April 2025. That was believed to be North Korea’s largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim called the first vessel, named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerrilla fighter during the Japanese colonial period — a significant asset for advancing his goal of expanding the military’s operational range and nuclear strike capabilities. The said ship was designed to carry weapons systems including nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim’s fury was understandable as the said warship was expected to enter active duty early in 2026. Kim was supervising test-firings from the warship.
In the meantime, commercial satellite images indicated that the country was building its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin. A website run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said the satellite imagery of Chongjin’s Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction.
According to 38 North, the destroyer in Chongjin was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay, a method that has been rarely used in North Korea. In contrast, the previous destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo used a floating dry dock. The destroyer was assembled in Chongjin, a port city known for producing smaller vessels, such as cargo ships and fishing boats but lacked expertise in manufacturing and launching large warships.
It is believed that the Choe Hyon destroyer is being built with Russian assistance as the two countries’ military partnerships are booming. North Korea has provided Russia’s Vladimir Putin with equipment and even soldiers to aid in his ongoing invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.
North Korea’s naval forces are considered far inferior to those of its rivals. However, the destroyer with nuclear-capable missiles and an advanced radar system would still enhance the North’s offensive and defensive capabilities. The reason why Kim has prioritised the arms build-up is because of his perceived threats from the United States and South Korea. Kim feels that both the US and South Korea have been expanding joint military exercises in response to the North’s advancing nuclear program. Kim is disturbed that in April 2025, the US military flew long-range B-1B bombers over the Korean Peninsula in joint exercise with the South, in a show of force against North Korea days after Kim’s powerful sister vowed to resist a US-led push to eliminate the Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Therefore the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine would be Kim’s next big step in strengthening the North Korean navy.
Kim is not known to show his weakness and failings. In order to prove a point, hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North Korea test-fired multiple cruise missiles from an area about 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Chongjin. The launches were a continuation of a streak of weapons-testing activities by North Korea.
The reasons for the botched launch of the warship demonstrated the lack of experience of the officials and political pressure from Kim for quick results. Such factors led to the mishaps. The arrest of chief shipyard engineer, senior munitions officers for allegations of the criminal acts were not surprising.
The ill-fated warship was North’s first destroyer and the most powerful surface ship the country had ever built. The vessel was the pride of Kim’s ambitious plan to modernise and expand his Soviet-era naval fleet. However, his grand christening ceremony in Nampo, the west coast port near Pyongyang that ended in whimper disappointed Kim.