North Korea arrests four officials over ‘disastrous’ warship launch

Kim Jong Un wasn't best pleased with the unveiling

Last week it was reported that the bottom of a brand-new 5,000-tonne navy destroyer was partially crushed at the ceremony, causing huge balancing issues.

Now, the country's state media agency KNCA has confirmed that the chief engineer of the northern Chongjin shipyard is currently being detained, in addition to the head of construction, an administrative manager and shipyard manager Hong Kil Ho.

They were each deemed "responsible for the accident" while North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un compared the cock-up to a "criminal act".

Per satellite imagery, the vessel is now lying on its side cloaked in blue tarpaulins, and Kim has demanded its restoration in time for a key party meeting next month.

"The hull starboard was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section," claimed KNCA.

24 hours on from the disaster, Kim said it was down to "absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism", and "severely damaged the dignity and pride of our nation in an instant."

It is unknown what punishment awaits the four men.

Writing in their Beyond Parallel blog, experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies argued that the ship "will not be entering Korean Peoples' Navy (KPN) service anytime soon and may ultimately prove to be a complete loss."

A South Korean ex-admiral named Kim Duk-ki even suggested to CNN that North Korea seemingly lacks the correct infrastructure to launch a ship of that magnitude, while defence analyst Yu Yong-weon warned against the hasty attempt to launch it for a second time.