North Korea Detains Three Officials Over Failed Warship Launch, Kim Jong Un Calls It a “Criminal Act”

 

Tensions are rising within North Korea’s military command after Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un ordered the arrest of three top naval officials following a failed warship launch earlier this week. The botched operation, which took place near the country’s eastern coast, was swiftly condemned by Kim, who reportedly called the incident a “criminal act of sabotage” during an emergency meeting.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the launch involved a newly developed patrol warship intended to showcase North Korea’s growing naval power. But just minutes after its deployment, the vessel reportedly suffered a major malfunction and sank near the dock a humiliating setback for the regime’s military propaganda machine.

State media has remained silent on the incident, but South Korean intelligence reports confirm increased activity at several naval bases, including internal investigations and troop reshuffling.

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Analysts say the detentions reflect Kim’s growing frustration with recent technical failures across the country’s defense projects.

“Kim Jong Un has staked a lot of political pride on North Korea’s military image,” said Jiyoung Han, a defense analyst in Seoul. “This warship mishap is not just a technical problem it’s a public embarrassment.”

The detained officials, whose names have not been made public, are believed to be high-ranking officers in the naval engineering division. Reports suggest they are being held at a military facility outside Pyongyang for questioning, with possible charges related to negligence or state sabotage.

North Korea has recently ramped up weapons testing and military drills amid worsening relations with the U.S. and South Korea. The failed warship launch adds to a string of high-profile failures, including a satellite test earlier this year that exploded mid-air.

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With pressure mounting, observers believe Kim may use this incident to enforce stricter discipline within his ranks, as well as to signal zero tolerance for failure especially in areas linked to national defense.