"Criminal act": Kim Jong-un denounces failed North Korean warship launch

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un responded with fury after watching a "serious accident" occur during the launch of a new warship on Thursday that he described as a "criminal act," the state-run KCNA reported.Why it matters: It's highly unusual for Kim to criticize his defense forces or for state media to report on an error — though KCNA did not disclose whether there were any casualties as it reported that parts of the 5,000-ton destroyer were crushed in the incident. In a photo taken in Seoul on Thursday, people sit near a television featuring news footage with a satellite still image courtesy of Maxar Technologies showing a general view of a new North Korean warship at the harbor ahead of its launch in Chongjin, North Korea. Photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty ImagesDetails: KCNA said the incident occurred due to "inexperienced command and operational carelessness in the course of the launch."Kim made a "stern assessment, saying that it was a serious accident and criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which should never occur and could not be tolerated," per KCNA.He ordered that the ship be restored following the incident at the shipyard in the northeastern port city of Chongjin "that lowered the dignity and self-respect of our state," according to KCNANorth Korean officials have launched "a full-scale investigation" into the matter, KCNA said on Friday morning local time."It is necessary to make clear the cause of the accident," KCNA said.Between the lines: KCNA reported that the "extent of damage to the warship is not serious," but the U.K.-based Open Source Centre noted on X that satellite images of the frigate on its side beside the dock show it was "significantly damaged."The high resolution imagery "shows the ship lies partially submerged on its side, tarpaulins draped over the wreckage in a visible attempt to contain the disaster," said the nonprofit that works in open source intelligence and analytics."This was the second new destroyer built by the Pyongyang regime in the last year, with another launched in April in Nampo."Go deeper: Trump admin game-planning for potential North Korea talks

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