North Korea has arrested three officials linked to a disastrous warship launch witnessed by Kim Jong Un, resulting in the 5,000-tonne vessel capsizing and taking on water. The chief engineer, the head of the hull construction workshop, and the deputy manager for administrative affairs were detained after an investigation revealed a loss of balance led to the mishap, which Kim condemned as a “criminal act” that undermined the state’s dignity. Despite the damage being reported as “not serious,” Kim has ordered the ship’s restoration before an upcoming ruling party meeting in June.
