The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 23rd that North Korea has formed an investigation team to thoroughly investigate the 'major incident' that occurred on the 21st with a newly built destroyer being launched.
The report stated that the investigative team is composed of personnel from the prosecution and relevant experts. The team indicated that, contrary to previously published information, the destroyer involved in the incident 'had no hole in the hull, the right side of the hull was scratched, and a certain amount of seawater flowed in through the aft part's rescue passage.'
The experts from the investigation team determined that 'it will take 2 to 3 days to drain the seawater from the flooded compartment and restore balance by detaching the bow part from the slipway, and it will take more than 10 days to repair the side hull.'
The report noted that on the 22nd, the investigation team reported relevant investigation details to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. The Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea issued relevant positions and instructions to the investigative team, stating that the damage to the destroyer involved in the incident was not severe, and the ship's flooding process after the incident was a necessary business repair measure.
The Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea stated that the cause of the incident and the responsible personnel must be identified, 'This incident is an intolerable criminal act, which will not change, and those responsible cannot escape their crimes.' The incident is considered a major event not because of vessel damage or economic loss but to severely punish the lack of vigilance, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism, serving as a warning.
The Korean Central News Agency stated that based on the investigation data from the incident investigation team, the judiciary has taken specific steps and decided to first detain those who are clearly responsible for the incident and investigate them. On the 22nd, Hong Gil-ho, the factory manager of Chongjin Shipyard, was summoned to the judiciary.