North Korea detains four officials over naval destroyer debacle

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North Korea detains four officials over naval destroyer debacle   Kim Jong-un last week described the damage to the 5,000-tonne ship as a "criminal act caused by absolute carelessness".  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/05/26/north-korea-detains-four-officials-over-naval-destroyer-debacle  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00North Korea has detained four officials after the failed launch of a naval destroyer last Wednesday in the port of Chongqing.

00:07Leader Kim Yong-un was reportedly furious, blaming criminal negligence as the reason of the accident that caused the warship to topple and partially submerge.

00:16State media named Ri Hyeong-sun a senior munitions official among those detained, along with the chief engineer and two other shipyard personnel.

00:24Satellite images showed the vessel covered in blue tarpaulins with parts underwater, highlighting the scale of the mishap.

00:32It is rare for Pyongyang to admit military failures or punish officials publicly, a sign of Kim's determination to modernize the Navy.

00:39The failed launch followed the successful debut of North Korea's first naval destroyer last month, which Kim had hailed as a breakthrough.

00:46South Korean officials believe the advanced warship named the Chuh-hyeon was likely built with Russian assistance and is capable of carrying nuclear missiles.

00:56Despite the public detention, North Korea claims the damage is minor and says repairs will take just 10 days, but experts suggest the event of the damage is being downplayed.

01:05South Korean firefighters

01:07South

01:22South Korean

01:25South Korean

01:27South Korean

01:30South Korean

01:32South Korean

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