North Korea’s top leader, Kim Jong Un, has fired several high-ranking military officers. This move comes after a new warship sank during its launch ceremony on May 21. Kim Jong Un was at the event and called the incident “an unacceptable crime.”
On May 30, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the North Korean government had replaced several top military officials. This includes the heads of the artillery and security departments. The changes were made after an emergency meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which Kim Jong Un led.
The meeting appointed six new corps commanders and new heads of the artillery and security departments. It also sent new political commissars to different areas. The focus was on strengthening discipline within the military and tightening control. The meeting decided to take military measures to maintain strategic and tactical advantages. It also approved new projects in the defense industry and science sector, but details were not released.
These changes happened after the unexpected sinking of the new warship. Kim Jong Un had attended the launch ceremony and criticized the incident. He ordered the damaged ship to be repaired without any conditions before the full meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea in June.
There are reports that the organizations involved in producing military equipment are being thoroughly investigated. Some officials, including a deputy director of the equipment department, have been detained for questioning.