Party Deputy Director Detained Over Destroyer Launch Accident in Front of Kim Jong Un
From Working-Level Staff to Party Officials:
Punishment for Those Responsible Expands
North Korea has detained a party official, holding them responsible for the destroyer grounding accident that occurred on May 21 in the presence of State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 26, the destroyer launch accident investigation group reported its findings to the Party Military Committee the previous day. KCNA reported, "Based on the investigation materials, the legal authorities summoned and detained Ri Hyongson, Deputy Director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Party Central Committee, who bears significant responsibility for the major accident."
On May 22, North Korean authorities summoned Hong Gilho, the manager of Chongjin Shipyard. On May 24, they consecutively detained Kang Jeongchol, chief engineer of Chongjin Shipyard; Han Gyeonghak, head of the hull assembly workshop; and Kim Yonghak, deputy administrative manager, along with other working-level staff at the shipyard.
In North Korea, a party deputy director is typically equivalent to a vice-minister or assistant minister in South Korea. The scope of punishment for those responsible for the destroyer grounding accident has thus expanded from working-level staff to high-ranking party officials. In addition, KCNA explained that efforts to fully restore the balance of the grounded destroyer are actively underway according to the planned schedule.
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Previously, on May 21, North Korea held a launching ceremony for a newly built 5,000-ton destroyer at Chongjin Shipyard. However, during the side launching process, the destroyer toppled, with part of it falling into the water and the hull sustaining damage. Chairman Kim, who witnessed the incident firsthand, described it as "a serious major accident and a criminal act," and ordered the punishment of those responsible as well as the restoration of the hull within June.
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