S. Korea to blame North over ship sinking: report

S. Korea to blame North over ship sinking: report

www.marketwatch.com

South Korea will formally blame North Korea on Thursday for sinking one of its patrol boats in March, The Washington Post reported Tuesday on its online edition, citing unidentified South Korean and U.S officials. Following an investigation, South Korea concluded that the sinking of the Cheonan off South Korea's west coast was caused by a torpedo and was not an internal explosion, according to the Post. The sinking of the patrol boat killed 46 sailors.

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Related News Links:
www.guardian.co.uk
english.yonhapnews.co.kr

[edit on 18-5-2010 by john124]

There it is, South Korea will officially blame the north for the sinking of their ship in a report released on Thursday, and they have evidence according to this from the Guardian:

South Korean investigators have found "decisive evidence" that a North Korean torpedo sank one of its naval ships, a Seoul news agency claimed today, citing an unnamed senior military official.

The inquiry team will publish its report on the causes of the March sinking, which claimed the lives of 46 sailors, on Thursday. South Korea's defence minister said last month it was "likely" that a torpedo was to blame, but added that several possibilities were under review.

Today Yonhap news agency said experts had found that traces of explosives recovered from the wreckage of the 1,200-tonne Cheonan were identical to the torpedoes used by North Korea.

According to Yonhap, investigators were able to compare material from the wreckage with a stray North Korean torpedo found off the South's coastline seven years ago.

"After analysing explosive traces recovered from the Cheonan and the seabed, we've got hold of evidence decisive enough to conclude [the Cheonan] came under a North Korean torpedo attack," the official told Yonhap.

The defence ministry told Associated Press that it could not confirm the report, but it did confirm the existence of the stray torpedo.

The US president, Barack Obama, discussed the investigation in a telephone call with his counterpart in South Korea, Lee Myung-bak, yesterday. The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, is due to visit Seoul next week.

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[edit on 18-5-2010 by john124]

Well in an earlier report they said that they would "punish" the ones responsible so this is going to be very interesting indeed. If S Korea don't respond after officially blaiming the north then they would be in fear of being seen as cowards and all talk. But at the same time if they do respond then it will look very much like a war will break out. Interesting development.

It's easy to blame............Obama can do that. It's another to actually initiate consequences. What are they going to do threaten sanctions?
The ENTIRE world needs to come down on NK not just America and SK. China as well needs to help SK. If not then China needs to be punished.

Unfortunately or fortunately, however you look at it, SK will need approval from the U.S before they decide to retaliate against the North for their actions...

Not a chance.

Originally posted by Zosynspiracy
It's easy to blame............Obama can do that. It's another to actually initiate consequences. What are they going to do threaten sanctions?

The ENTIRE world needs to come down on NK not just America and SK. China as well needs to help SK. If not then China needs to be punished.

Sadly as I've stated on another thread about NK/SK, I am certain China will once again run to lil Kimmy's aide. Probly Iran aswell. As for Russia, me thinks they will wait till near the end of the war as they did in WW2 and play cleanup crew yet again.