Satellite images have captured the damage suffered by North Korea's new warship during its failed launch at a shipyard in the city of Chongjin, in the presence of Kim Jong Un.
The ship appears upside down in the water, covered with large blue raincoats, while part of it is out of the water, on land, foreign media write.
According to a statement from the state news agency KCNA, authorities have launched an official investigation into the incident, which the country's leader described as a "criminal act." The same source reports that there is no information about injuries or losses from the accident that occurred on Thursday.
KCNA downplayed the seriousness of the incident, stating that "the damage was not serious" and clarifying that "there are no holes in the bottom of the ship." According to the report, the destroyer's starboard side suffered scratches and a small amount of water entered the stern.
The ship before its departure:
The ship after its launch failure:
The shipyard's director, Hong Gil Ho, has been summoned by authorities for an explanation. Repairing the damage is estimated to take about ten days, writes A2 CNN.
During his statement on Thursday, Kim Jong Un blamed negligence and said those responsible would be held accountable.
The accident occurred weeks after the unveiling of the new 5,000-ton destroyer "Choe Hyon," which North Korea described as a technological breakthrough and was expected to enter operational service early next year.
(A2 Televizion)
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