Kim Jong Un made stern assessment saying that it was a serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which is out of the bounds of possibility and could not be tolerated,

Authorities in Pyongyang have detained a chief engineer, the head of hull construction and an administrative affairs official after a 5,000-tonne destroyer was damaged during a failed launch ceremony.

A 5,000-ton North Korean destroyer suffered a "serious accident" during a launch ceremony, state media reported Thursday, with leader Kim Jong Un calling it a "criminal act" and warning of consequences.