MaxarSatellite images showed for the first time the degree of a North Korea Shipyard accident This damaged a new warship in the presence of secret state leader Kim Jong Un.
The image shows the military ship lying on its side, covered by large blue tarpaulins. Part of the ship seems to be on land.
An official investigation into the accident – which Kim described as a “criminal act” – began, state media reported on Friday.
None of the reports mentioned casualties or injuries as a result of the incident on Thursday in the eastern port city of Chongjin.
KCNA, North Korea's official news agency, downplayed the damage to a report on Friday, saying it was not “serious” and that, contrary to the original reports, there were no holes at the bottom of the ship.
“The right board of the housing was scratched and a certain amount of seawater flooded into the stern through the rescue channel,” KCNA reported.
The shipyard manager, Hong Kil Ho, has been summoned by legal contractors, the statement said.
According to KCNA, it will take about 10 days.
Kim said on Thursday that the incident was caused by “absolute negligence, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism”.
He added that those who made “irresponsible mistakes” would be considered at a plenary meeting next month.
It is not clear what punishment they can collide with, but the authoritarian state has a great recording of human rights.
It is not uncommon for North Korea to disclose local accidents – although this is the rule several times in the past.
This particular incident comes weeks after North Korea revealed a similar 5,000-ton destroyer, Choe Hyon.
Kim had called this warship “breakthrough” in the modernization of the Navy of North Korea and said it would be located early next year.