Pyongyang: North Korea's state media announced on Monday that the country's recently damaged destroyer, which was harmed during a launch attempt last week, is currently undergoing repairs. Additionally, another official has been detained as part of the investigation into the warship accident.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the investigation group presented its findings to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Ri Hyong-son, vice department director of the party's Munitions Industry Department, was summoned and detained due to his connection with the accident.
The KCNA stated that the detention of Ri was based on data collected by the investigation group, identifying him as "greatly responsible" for the mishap. At the accident site, efforts to restore the destroyer's balance are being conducted under the guidance of an expert group and in accordance with an established schedule.
The destroyer, which tipped over and partially submerged during its launch ceremony in Chongjin last Wednesday, sustained significant hull damage. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who attended the event, condemned the incident as an intolerable "criminal act," attributing it to "absolute carelessness" and "irresponsibility." He has ordered that the ship be fully restored by June.
Further actions in the investigation included summoning the manager of Chongjin Shipyard on Thursday and detaining the shipyard's chief engineer, the head of the hull construction workshop, and a deputy manager for administrative affairs on Saturday. As of now, the restoration work continues under the careful supervision of technical experts.