NORTH Korean officials could face being shot over the warship disaster as a fourth was arrested in Kim’s crackdown, an expert warned.

The 5,000-ton naval destroyer ended up on its side in what Kim Jong-un slammed as a “criminal act”, blaming the disaster on “absolute carelessness”.

North Korean media reported that a fourth person has been arrested over the warship that was left badly damaged at a launch ceremony attended by Kim Jong-un on Wednesday.

Three officials were arrested at the northern Chongjin shipyard over the weekend.

Chief engineer Kang Jong Chol, hull workshop head Han Kyong Hak, and deputy manager Kim Yong Hak were detained over the “serious accident”, state media reported.

Speaking to The Sun, Michael Madden, founder of North Korea Leadership Watch, warned the arrested officials face a grim fate.

He said: “North Korean authorities are investigating the production units involved so there much of the end result will be collective punishment.” 

He said: “There is a chance to make it right. Of course, these people will have reduced or no pay during the time period.

“Some people will lose their party memberships and be sent to jail for short sentences.”

But more alarmingly, “some people are going to be shot to death behind this,” according to Madden. 

He explained that “because this made national news in the DPRK” and the Suryo’ng (supreme leader) was present, there is “sufficient motivation” to have workers and managers “witness the executions under the old principle of ‘kill the chicken to scare the monkeys’.”

Madden added: “Another thing to note is the regime disclosed the ship launch failure. 

“They are getting out front of the story as some people say. 

“Kim Jong-un doesn’t need outside observers making their own assessments simply to critique the North.”

Kim Jong-un said the fiasco had “severely damaged the [country’s] dignity and pride”.

State media said the incident was “a criminal act caused by absolute carelessness” and insisted those involved “can never evade their responsibility for the crime”.

“No matter how good the state of the warship is, the fact that the accident is an unpardonable criminal act remains unchanged,” it added.

Satellite images later revealed the massive warship lying on its side beside the launch dock, partially submerged at the stern with its bow resting on the harbour jetty.

While it’s unclear what exact punishment awaits the detainees, the authoritarian state’s track record suggests it could be fatal.

In the past, people have been executed by anti-aircraft guns or killed for infractions like falling asleep during rallies attended by Kim.

People have also been jailed for a wide range of actions – from watching South Korean DVDs to attempting to defect.

In February, dozens of party officials were reportedly punished for an embarrassing “drinking spree” that ended in a “major incident” at Ryonggang Hot Springs resort in North Korea’s Onchon county.

The incident was seen as a breach of the party’s strict discipline and a threat to the authority of the Korean Workers’ Party.

Last year, North Korea admitted carrying out public executions in a rare admission of its treatment of prisoners.

Executions were ordered for 30 officials in September after Kim accused them of failing to prevent flooding and landslides that killed 1,000 people.