North Korean shipbuilder dies during destroyer construction

A North Korean shipbuilder died during the construction of a new naval destroyer.

The ceremony marking the completion of the destroyer took place on June 12 at the Rajin Shipyard in the country’s northeast. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended the event and paid tribute to the worker, Jo Kum Hyok, describing him as a “true patriot” who had continued working despite health issues, Caliber.Az reports via North Korean state media.

Jo Kum Hyok was the head of the Sheet Metal Processing Workteam No. 1 at the Chongjin Shipyard and reportedly died on the job shortly before the warship’s launch.

The North Korean president also met with Jo's wife and son and pledged support from the shipyard to the family.

Kim praised the contributions of workers, scientists, and technicians involved in the warship’s construction, describing the project as a symbol of North Korea’s rapid development in naval capabilities.

The recent re-launch of a North Korean naval vessel, just three weeks after a reported failure, likely suggests that the initial damage was relatively minor, according to a Washington-based think tank. 

Satellite images had shown ongoing repairs to the 5,000-ton destroyer that partially capsized in May, after Kim called the accident a "criminal act" and ordered the ship to be rebuilt.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report that satellite imagery showed the ship’s gun turret had been mounted. However, the hatches for its vertical launch systems remained covered, raising questions about whether those systems have been fully installed.

By Sabina Mammadli