State media reported on Sunday that North Korea had detained officials from a shipyard responsible for an accident which occurred during the recent launch of a warship.

Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, witnessed the failed launch which crippled a 5,000-tonne battleship. He said that the accident had damaged the dignity of the country and promised to punish the culprits.

Experts say that the mishap occurred before a large crowd in the port of Chongjin located at the northeastern part of the country, which increased the humiliation of Kim, who was trying to display his military prowess.

The state KCNA reported that the authorities intensified their investigation and arrested several people, including the chief engineer at the Chongjin Shipyard.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in the United States, satellite imagery shows a warship covered with blue tarps lying on its back, the stern of which is swung into the harbor but the bow remains on the side slipway.

Kim ordered the ship to be restored in time for a meeting of the ruling party scheduled for June. KCNA reported that the rehabilitation plan is moving forward.

North Korea will "contain and control" all military threats coming from enemy countries, KCNA reported in a separate report citing the chief of policy at the ministry of defence. (Reporting and editing by Daniel Wallis; Ju-min Park)

(source: Reuters)