North Korean state media reported that four officials were arrested after a recent naval ship launch failed. Leader Kim Jong Un said the failure was due to serious carelessness.

North Korea doesn't often punish officials severely in public when their weapons tests or military displays fail. The arrests of four officials this weekend show how serious Kim Jong-un is about increasing his military power and improving discipline in the country.

A 5,000-ton destroyer was damaged on Wednesday when Kim Jong-un was there. This happened because a support structure at the back of the ship broke off too early during its launch at Chongjin port in the northeast. Satellite photos show the ship on its side, covered with blue material, and some parts are underwater.

Kim was very angry about the incident because the warship, which is the country's second destroyer, is very important for his plans to update the navy. He quickly blamed military leaders, scientists, and shipyard workers, saying their actions were a "criminal act" caused by extreme carelessness and not using proper scientific methods.

On Monday, North Korea's official news agency announced that Ri Hyong Son, a senior official in the Workers' Party, was arrested. He admitted that he was mainly responsible for the failed rocket launch.

KCNA reported on Sunday that three officials from Chongjin Shipyard were arrested because of the incident. These officials included the chief engineer, the head of the hull construction workshop, and the deputy manager for administrative affairs.

Hong Kil Ho, who manages the shipyard, was also asked to come in for questioning, as KCNA reported earlier.

On Thursday, North Korea's Central Military Commission told investigators that the people responsible "cannot avoid being punished for the crime." However, it's not clear what punishment the arrested officials will receive.

When Kim first became leader, he became known for ordering the execution and removal of important officials, including his uncle. Experts think these actions were mainly to strengthen his control and get rid of anyone who could challenge him. Recently, there have been fewer reports of executions or removals in North Korea, as Kim has gained power similar to his father and grandfather.

Kim has reportedly given special benefits to scientists and engineers who work on developing weapons, as he has been trying hard to increase his nuclear and missile supplies. He has given them new apartments in Pyongyang. Also, after a military spy satellite launch failed last year, he sent a supportive message to his scientists about the problem, saying that "failure is always a necessary step for success," according to state media.

Experts believe Kim wants to make significant progress on his five-year plan to develop weapons, which was established at a ruling party meeting in early 2021. Kim has stated that North Korea requires a stronger navy, nuclear-capable missiles, and other advanced weapons to handle what he describes as growing security threats led by the U.S.

Last month, North Korea launched its first destroyer, a large ship weighing 5,000 tons. State media reported that this is North Korea's biggest and most modern warship, and it was built to carry various weapons, including nuclear missiles. Kim Jong-un stated that building it was an important step in making North Korea's navy more modern.

North Korea said the second destroyer wasn't badly damaged, explaining that the right side of its body was scratched and some water got into the back.

North Korea stated on Friday that they would need about 10 days to fix the damage, but many international observers thought the country probably made the damage seem less serious than it was.