Overview

• North Korea's second Choe Hyon-class destroyer was severely damaged during a failed side-launch at Chongjin shipyard, leaving the vessel partially capsized.
• Kim Jong Un described the mishap as a 'criminal act' caused by carelessness and ordered the ship to be restored within 10 days, ahead of the late-June Workers' Party plenary session.
• The Central Military Commission has initiated an investigation, summoning the shipyard manager and holding multiple state institutions responsible for the failure.
• State media reports that the damage is repairable, despite external analysts warning that full restoration may take months due to the lack of advanced shipyard infrastructure like dry docks.
• The Choe Hyon-class represents North Korea's largest and most advanced warships, equipped with nuclear-capable missiles, as part of the regime's naval modernization efforts.