North Korea detains three over warship launch accident, state media reports

North Korea detained three officials after an accident during the launch of a new warship last week, with parts of the vessel's bottom crushed due to the ship sinking or tipping over. The North Korean leader described the incident as a "criminal act" attributed to carelessness, though KCNA reported minimal damage despite South Korea's intelligence suggesting the ship failed to launch properly and is lying on its side in the water. Meanwhile, Russian assistance in constructing a similar vessel launched earlier this month remains under investigation, with it expected to be operational next year.