UPDATE - North Korea replaces senior military officials after botched warship launch

UPDATE WITH NORTH KOREAN LEADER'S VISIT TO MILITARY FIRING CONTEST; CHANGES DECK; EDITS

By Islamuddin Sajid

North Korea replaced senior military officials during a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state-run media reported Friday.

The meeting was held Wednesday, chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The commission appointed six commanding officers of corps-level units, the director of the Artillery Bureau, the director of the Security Bureau, and some newly dispatched political commissars, it said.

The latest development comes after a new 5,000-ton North Korean destroyer was damaged last week during its launch ceremony.

The accident occurred in Chongjin, a port city on North Korea's northeastern coast, when the warship’s stern slid ahead of the bow, causing structural damage and preventing the vessel from fully leaving the shipway.

Kim condemned the accident as a “criminal act” stemming from “absolute carelessness, irresponsibility, and unscientific empiricism” and promised to punish those responsible.

Meanwhile, North Korean leader on Thursday watched a firing contest among the artillery sub-units of large combined units of the Korean People's Army.

Kim praised the artillery sub-units and said they are preparing themselves in full combat readiness.

"It is very important to frequently organize firing contests in a simulation of an actual warfare in training the artillerymen into all-round and a-match-for-a-hundred ones capable of directly hitting the target at any time and in any situation," Kim said.