North Korea Initiates Investigation into Botched Warship Deployment
(MENAFN) In an uncommon public admission of failure, North Korea announced on Friday that it has initiated an investigation into the unsuccessful launch of a warship earlier this week, as reported by the state-run media.
“No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime,” stated a North Korean news agency.
The agency clarified that, contrary to the initial report, the investigation found “no holes made at the warship's bottom, the hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section through the rescue channel.”
The attempted deployment of the newly constructed 5,000-ton destroyer faltered at the eastern port city of Chongjin, when the ship’s stern slipped ahead of the bow. This caused structural damage and stopped the vessel from fully sliding off the shipway.
Photographs reveal the vessel lying on its side, partially submerged in water and resting on land, mostly covered by bright blue tarpaulins.
According to the news agency, it will likely take two or three days “to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway and 10 odd days to restore the warship's side.”
The report also noted that the damage to the warship’s exterior is “not serious.”
The news agency added that procedures for detaining and investigating “those who are clearly responsible for the accident,” have commenced.
Earlier, on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un denounced the incident as a “criminal act” caused by “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” following the failed launch.
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