Overview

• North Korea's second Choe Hyon-class destroyer suffered significant damage during a failed side-launch at Chongjin on May 21, leaving it partially capsized.
• Kim Jong-un labeled the incident a 'criminal act' caused by carelessness and demanded the warship's restoration be completed within 10 days ahead of a late June Party meeting.
• The Central Military Commission has initiated an investigation, summoning the shipyard manager and vowing accountability for those deemed responsible for the mishap.
• Satellite imagery and South Korean intelligence confirm the vessel remains stranded on its side, with tarpaulins covering damaged sections and seawater inside the hull.
• The failed launch is a setback for North Korea's naval modernization efforts, which aim to enhance its military capabilities with nuclear-capable destroyers.