North Korea detains three shipyard officials over failed naval destroyer launch

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows a blue tarp covering a North Korean destroyer after it suffered a failed launch while it was being put to sea in Chongjin, North Korea (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

North Korea authorities have detained three shipyard officials over the recent failed launch of a naval destroyer, an incident that leader Kim Jong Un said was caused by criminal negligence, state media said on Sunday.

The 5,000-tonne-class destroyer was damaged on Wednesday when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony attended by Mr Kim at the northeastern port of Chongjin.