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.

North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un said a new naval destroyer was damaged in a "serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness."

Satellite images have for the first time shown the extent of a shipyard accident in North Korea that damaged a new warship in the presence of the secretive state's leader, Kim Jong Un. The image shows the warship lying on its side, covered by large blue tarpaulins. A portion of the vessel appears to be on land.