SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
By Hyunsu Yim
Seoul: North Korea will make arrests as part of a full-scale investigation into the launch accident that left a brand-new destroyer lying on its side half-submerged, state media reported on Friday.
Pyongyang has said the Wednesday incident, which took place in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was caused by a loss of balance while the 5000-tonne ship was being put into the water.
Satellite imagery shows the crippled vessel at the north-eastern shipyard of Chongjin with most of its hull underwater and draped in blue covers.
Kim berated the mishap as a “criminal act” caused by “sheer carelessness” that could not be tolerated, according to state media.
An internal inspection of the warship found no holes, but the starboard hull was scratched, and seawater had flowed into the stern section, state media reported.
The extent of damage was “not serious”, the report said, adding an investigation group had been ordered to find the cause of the accident and those responsible for it.
The report did not mention any injuries or deaths as a result of the accident.
‘Unpardonable’
The shipyard manager, Hong Kil-ho, was summoned by the Central Military Commission on Thursday as it began measures to detain and investigate those responsible, KCNA said.
“No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime,” the commission said, according to KCNA.
The mishap likely occurred in front of a large crowd, increasing the public humiliation for Kim, military analysts said.
Blaming military officials, scientists and shipyard operators, Kim ordered the warship to be repaired before a high-level ruling Workers’ Party meeting in late June, KCNA reported.
Treating the accident as a serious matter was part of an effort to fight against “incautiousness” and “irresponsibility,” KCNA said.
Kim Jong-un has taken steps to build up his naval power in recent years.Credit: via REUTERS
Citing satellite imagery, the US-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said it appeared the ship had failed to move in one piece.
“The stern is seen swung out into the harbour as a result of the wheeled units placed under the frame sliding into the water while the bow remained on the side slipway,” the CSIS said.
The shipyard in Chongjin has primarily produced cargo vessels and fishing vessels and “undoubtedly lacks significant expertise” in launching large warships, CSIS added.
It would take two to three days to restore the balance of the warship by pumping seawater from the flooded chamber and about 10 days to repair the vessel’s side, the KCNA report said, citing experts’ estimates.
The extremely secretive nature of North Korea makes it almost impossible to verify the damage.
Little is known about the Choe Hyon’s actual capabilities.Credit: KCNA
The reclusive state has a history of manipulating or covering up military-related setbacks, policy fiascoes and other mishaps, though it has periodically acknowledged some of these events in recent years.
Observers believe North Korea’s admission of the failed launch is probably meant to demonstrate Kim’s resolve to advance his naval capabilities and boost discipline.
The damaged ship is thought to be of the same class as North Korea’s first destroyer, Choe Hyon, unveiled last month with great fanfare, and said to be capable of carrying various weapons, including nuclear missiles.
Analysts say it is the North’s biggest and most advanced warship to date and was likely built with Russian assistance.
Last week, the North Korea-focused 38 North website assessed that the new destroyer was being prepared to be launched sideways – a method North Korea has rarely used.
The Choe Hyon, launched at the western shipyard of Nampo, used a floating dry dock.
Reuters / AP
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