Warship FLOP Sparks Military PANIC!

North Korea’s newest guided missile destroyer capsized during launch, exposing deep flaws in its military engineering and political leadership.

At a Glance

• North Korea’s 144-meter Choe Hyon-class destroyer capsized during launch at Cheongjin shipyard.
• Kim Jong Un personally witnessed the incident and called it a “criminal act” of negligence.
• Engineering flaws with the launch slide and structural misalignment caused the vessel to tip.
• Satellite imagery revealed the warship remained on its side for weeks despite official claims of recovery.
• Allegations surfaced of Russian involvement in the destroyer’s development.

Engineering Failure, Political Fallout

On May 21, 2025, North Korea’s ambitious naval modernization hit a humiliating snag when its newest destroyer capsized at launch. The 5,511-ton Choe Hyon-class vessel, seen as a crown jewel in Kim Jong Un’s push for a blue-water navy, flipped on its side moments after sliding into the harbor at Cheongjin shipyard. The mishap unfolded in full view of Kim and top brass. Official accounts, later contradicted by satellite imagery, downplayed the incident, claiming the ship was stabilized and under repair.

Investigators blamed the failure on “inexperienced command and operational carelessness,” citing launch-slide failure and structural imbalances. The vessel’s stern veered into the harbor after a wheeled launch unit collapsed, disrupting the ship’s center of gravity and causing the bow to lodge against the slipway. Holes in the warship’s underbelly further skewed its weight distribution, sealing its fate. Experts also faulted the shipyard itself, which primarily builds fishing vessels and lacked capacity for military-grade construction.

Kim’s Fury and Crackdowns

Kim Jong Un wasted no time condemning the disaster, branding it a “criminal act caused by sheer callousness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism.” In a rare public rebuke, he vowed sweeping disciplinary action at the upcoming Party Central Committee meeting. At least one official, deputy director Ri Hyong Son, has been detained. Analysts say the crackdown reflects deeper anxiety over North Korea’s international image and the credibility of its military posture.

Watch a report: Botched launch: North Korea warship finally returned upright.

The ship’s damaged sonar bow and compromised hull remain critical concerns. Makeshift recovery efforts using cables and barrage balloons appear to have succeeded in refloating the vessel, but the extent of the damage raises questions about its future serviceability.

Strategic Embarrassment and Foreign Ties

The failed launch is more than a domestic fiasco—it carries serious implications for North Korea’s global military image. The Choe Hyon-class was intended to signal a leap forward in naval power projection, yet its launch fiasco underscores persistent technical shortcomings. It also cast doubt on potential foreign partnerships: rumors swirled about Russian collaboration on the vessel’s design, possibly as part of clandestine military exchanges. If true, the incident may embarrass not only Pyongyang but also its shadow patrons.

Despite public bluster, the failed debut of North Korea’s flagship destroyer underscores the stark limits of its engineering infrastructure and project oversight. The geopolitical consequences, both internal and external, are likely to ripple far beyond the shipyard docks.