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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Census reform pitch: Call for ‘no caste, no religion' option gains ground in Telangana; census director responds to Kula Nirmulana Sangham (KNS) plea
HYDERABAD: Director of Census for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bharathi Hollikeri, on Tuesday assured representatives of Kula Nirmulana Sangham that she would forward their request to create a separate space in the upcoming census formats for individuals who wish to identify as casteless and irreligious. The KNS team submitted a representation citing a legal directive from Telangana HC, which had instructed authorities to make provisions for the 'no caste, no religion' (NCNR) category in official data collection. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
New York Post
14-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
North Korea relaunches 5K ton warship after embarrassing false start in May
North Korea has successfully repaired and relaunched its new 5,000-ton naval destroyer less than a month after the boat embarrassingly capsized, according to state media reports. The Korean Central News Agency said the destroyer — the second one Pyongyang has built this year — was back in the water on Thursday. 3 Kim Jong Un brought his daughter along for the relaunch. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images The reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was reportedly at the launch, held along the country's east coast. Kim said the new battleship stood as 'convincing proof of the rapid transformation of our Navy. … No one will doubt, I think, the rapid transformation of our Navy as they have witnessed the launching of another new-type destroyer less than two months after a similar event at the Nampho Shipyard.' Kim repeated prior claims he would bolster North Korea's navy in response to perceived threats posed by the US and its Asian allies. 3 Kim and his daughter toured the warship on Thursday. KCNA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 'The super-radical growth of our Navy's operations capability is now being proved by powerful entities, not by a prediction or possibility, and this has already become an unstoppable, powerful current of history,' said Kim. The ruler of the hermit kingdom previously attributed last month's botched launch to criminal negligence. Four officials were later detained, including the vice director of the Workers' Party's munitions industry department. 3 This is the second destroyer the reclusive nation's built this year. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Kim has been visiting military industrial factories across the country, calling on the country to ramp up production of shells in order to meet the demands of war in the 21st century. KCNP reported Kim 'gave field guidance at a major munitions industry enterprise' on Friday, and 'learned in detail about shell production, capacity expansion and modernization projects in the first half of 2025.' Kim 'expressed great satisfaction over the high enthusiasm for patriotic deeds and struggle displayed by the workers at the enterprise,' KCNP reported. He further noted stepping up production would 'satisfy all the requirements of the national defence strategy and increase the output of new-type powerful shells to meet the requirements of modern warfare.'
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un furious over failed destroyer launch, vows to arrest those responsible
North Korea is seeking to arrest those responsible for the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, as it denied the warship suffered major damage — a claim quickly met with outside skepticism. A statement from North Korea on its handling of the botched launch came after leader Kim Jong Un expressed fury over the incident that he said was caused by criminal negligence. The main military committee said Friday that those responsible would be held accountable for their 'unpardonable criminal act.' Advertisement 7 North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un attends the launch ceremony of a newly-built destroyer alongside his daughter Ju Ae on April 25, 2025. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images Satellite imagery on the site showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of it submerged. North Korea says it will take about 10 days to repair the damage, but outside observers question that timeframe because damage to the ship appeared much worse than what North Korea claims. Advertisement Here is what you need to know about the failed ship launch: How much damage was there to the ship? North Korea's state media said Friday the severity of the damage to the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was 'not serious' as it canceled an earlier assessment that the bottom of the hull had been left with holes. It said the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater had flowed into the stern section. It said it needs a total of 10 days to pump out the seawater, set the ship upright and fix the scratches. Advertisement It's almost impossible to verify the assessment because of the extremely secretive nature of North Korea. 7 Satellite footage captured the extensive damage the destroyer sustained in the launch, as the vessel sits in the water covered by tarps. @osc_london/X 7 The newly-built destroyer sits above the water before the launch ceremony on May 18, 2025. via REUTERS It has a history of manipulating or covering up military-related setbacks, policy fiascoes and other mishaps, though it has periodically acknowledged some in recent years. Advertisement Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said the North Korean warship likely suffered much worse damage, including the flooding of its engine room located in the stern section, and holes in the starboard. He said North Korea could simply set the ship upright, paint it over and claim the ship has been launched, but that repairs could take more than a year as the replacement of an engine requires cutting the hull. Why the ship's launch failed According to the North Korean account, the destroyer was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday. Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul's Hanyang University, said North Korean workers are probably not familiar with launching a 5,000-ton-class warship, which is a few times heavier than its existing main navy ships. 7 According to the North Korean account, the destroyer was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship's stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday. via REUTERS Observers say North Korea tried to launch the destroyer sideways, a method it has never used for warships, although it has previously employed it with big cargo and passenger ships. Compared with those non-military vessels, Lee sad it would be more difficult to maintain balance with the destroyer because it's equipped with heavy weapons systems. He suspected North Korean scientists and officials likely did not factor that in. How Kim has reacted Advertisement The damaged ship is assessed as the same class as North Korea's first destroyer, launched with great fanfare last month with a floating dry dock at a western shipyard. It is North Korea's biggest and most advanced warship to date, and Kim called its construction 'a breakthrough' in modernizing North Korea's naval forces to cope with what he calls US-led security threats. Subsequently, a failure to launch the second destroyer was an embarrassment for Kim. 7 Kim Jong Un addresses a crowd during a launch ceremony at the western port of Nampo on April 25, 2025. AP Advertisement 7 Kim Jong Un and his daughter participate in a ceremony near the destroyer on April 26, 2025. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images But by disclosing the failure both internally and externally, Kim could be trying to show his resolve in building greater naval forces and boosting discipline at home. He ordered officials to repair the warship before a ruling Workers' Party meeting in late June. The official Korean Central News Agency said Friday that a team of prosecutors and experts began steps to arrest and investigate those responsible as part of their full-scale investigation into the case. KCNA said that Hong Kil Ho, manager of the Chongjin shipyard, has been summoned for questioning. Advertisement 7 Kim Jong Un attends looks on during a launch ceremony for the country's new Naval destroyer. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images 'No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged, and those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime,' the North's Central Military Commission said in an instruction to the investigation team, according to KCNA. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said North Korea appears to be using the failed launch as a chance to strengthen the ruling party's control over science and technological sectors. Advertisement Lee Choon Geun, an honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, said that North Korea's handling of the damaged warship could have long-term consequences for its defense science sector. 'If scientists are held severely accountable, I would say the future of North Korea's defense science doesn't look very bright, as it would be a sign that political responsibility is being prioritized over technical accountability,' Lee wrote on Facebook.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
North Korea's second naval destroyer damaged in failed launch at ceremony attended by Kim
North Korea's second naval destroyer was damaged in its failed launch to the water this week, state media reported Thursday, in an embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pushes to modernize his naval forces. It's not common for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, but observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch suggests that Kim is serious about his naval advancement program and confident of ultimately achieving its objectives. During a launching event at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday, the newly built 5,000-ton-class destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Advertisement 4 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) and his daughter Ju Ae attending the launch ceremony of a newly-built destroyer at the Nampo port in Nampo on April 26, 2025. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images KCNA didn't provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of the damage or whether anyone was injured. According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a 'serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism.' Kim called for a ruling Workers' Party meeting slated for late June to address their 'irresponsible errors.' Advertisement 'It's a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it's speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build' a greater navy, said Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul's Hanyang University. Moon suspected the incident likely happened because North Korean workers aren't yet familiar with such a large warship and were rushed to put it in the water. The damaged vessel was likely in the same class as the country's first destroyer, unveiled April 25, which experts assessed as the North's largest and most advanced warship to date. 4 Kim Jong Un speaks during a launching ceremony of a new naval destroyer at a western port in Nampo, North Korea, on April 25, 2025. AP Advertisement Kim called the first vessel, named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerilla fighter during the Japanese colonial period — a significant asset for advancing his goal of expanding the military's operational range and nuclear strike capabilities. State media described that ship as designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday the damaged vessel was likely equipped with similar systems and remains toppled over in the sea. Advertisement 4 The launch ceremony of a newly-built destroyer at the Nampo port in Nampo. KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images The North Korean report came after recent commercial satellite images indicated that the country was building its second destroyer at a shipyard in Chongjin. Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said the satellite imagery of Chongjin's Hambuk shipyard on May 12 showed that a second vessel in the Choe Hyon-class of guided missile destroyers was under construction. A report by the North Korea-focused 38 North website assessed last week that the destroyer built at the Chongjin shipyard was being prepared to be launched sideways from the quay, a method that has been rarely used in North Korea. The report said the previous destroyer launched at the western shipyard of Nampo, in contrast, used a floating dry dock. South Korean officials and experts say the Choe Hyon destroyer was likely built with Russian assistance as the two countries' military partnerships are booming. 4 North Korea has unveiled a new warship it claims is a destroyer armed with the 'most powerful weapons.' KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images While North Korea's naval forces are considered inferior to South Korea's, analysts still view the destroyer as a serious security threat, as it could enhance the country's offensive and defensive capabilities. Advertisement Kim has framed the arms buildup as a response to perceived threats from the United States and its allies in Asia, who have been expanding joint military exercises amid rising tensions over the North's nuclear program. He says the acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine would be his next big step in strengthening his navy. Hours after releasing the report on the damaged destroyer, North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles from an area near the northeastern town of Sondok, according to South Korea's military. The launches were a continuation of a streak of weapons-testing activities by North Korea in recent years. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff didn't immediately say how far the missiles flew, noting the launches were being analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities.
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
New North Korean warship damaged in 'serious accident,' leaving Kim furious
A new North Korean warship was damaged during a 'serious accident' at a launch ceremony on Wednesday, leaving the country's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un furious read more This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on April 30, 2025 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (centre R) with his daughter Ju Ae (centre L) attending the test-firing of a weapons system from North Korea's latest destroyer, the Choe Hyon (behind), during two days of tests on April 28-29 off the coast of an undisclosed location in North Korea. AFP A new North Korean warship was damaged in a 'serious accident,' leaving the country's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un furious. According to the Korean Central News Agency, the accident occurred on Wednesday at the northeastern port of Chongjin during a launch ceremony of the warship. The report came as a surprise because it was seen as a rare admission of failure by the hermit nation. According to KCNA, the 5,000-ton destroyer slid off a flatcar due to 'inexperienced command and operational carelessness in the course of the launch." The accident crushed the bottom parts of the ship. During the event, Kim reportedly stressed the importance of such destroyers for advancing North Korea's military capabilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kim later described the accident as a 'criminal act caused by absolute carelessness' that 'could not be tolerated,' KCNA reported. He slammed the officials involved in the accident and said that the incident 'brought the dignity and self-respect of our state to a collapse". He ordered the ship to be restored before next month's plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party. Warship laid sideways Meanwhile, on Thursday, South Korea's military said the warship was lying sideways in the water. According to KCNA, Kim said the 'irresponsible errors' of officials responsible would be 'dealt with at the plenary meeting of the Party Central Committee to be convened next month'. The incident took place a month after Pyongyang unveiled another 5,000-tonne destroyer-class vessel named Choe Hyon . The launch ceremony was attended by Kim with his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor. North Korea claimed that the vessel was equipped with the 'most powerful weapons' and that it would 'enter into operation early next year'. Following the launch event, some analysts argued that the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles, although North Korea has not proven it can miniaturise its nukes. Amid speculations, the South Korean military argued that Choe Hyon could have been developed with Russian help , possibly in exchange for Pyongyang deploying thousands of troops in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Interestingly, the Wednesday ceremony was held in the North Korean city, which is conveniently close to Russia's Vladivostok port. Hence, Russian involvement cannot be disregarded. With inputs from agencies.
