‘All out war’ threatened over North Korea attack on warship Cheonan - Times Online
A torpedo part recovered from the Yellow Sea in the area in which the South Korean ship the Cheonan sank
North Korea has threatened all out war if there is any retalation from Seoul for the torpedo attack which sank the South Korean warship Cheonan in March.
Pyongyang made the threat as it dismissed as fabrication a report by an international team of investigators which concludes that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine was responsible for the explosion that ripped the 1,200 tonne corvette in two, killing 46 sailors in one of South Koreas worst naval tragedies.
In an escalating war of words, President Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean president vowed to take resolute counter-measures against North Korea for the torpedo attack on the Cheonan, which happened near the disputed border between the two countries.
The investigators report, published today, is understood to include a computer simulation of the attack in which the Cheonan is shown being struck by an acoustic homing torpedo armed with a quarter-tonne warhead.
It concludes: The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine.
There is no other plausible explanation.
Britain and the US immediately threw their support behind the reports findings. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, condemned the attack and its total indifference to human life.
The UK and international partners are committed to working closely with the Republic of Korea as they consider an appropriate multilateral response to this callous act, he said.
The White House described the attack as an act of aggression that constituted a challenge to international peace and security.
The ship was on routine patrol in the Yellow Sea near Baengnyeong Island, a heavily garrisoned outpost that lies off the North Korean coast when it suddenly exploded and sank. The maritime boundary has been disputed since the ceasefire that ended fighting in the Korean war in 1953.
Almost immediately speculation began that it had been deliberately targeted by North Korea.
The 58 crew members rescued after the blast said in a press conference that they believed the explosion had come from outside the corvette. Captain Choi Won Il said officers at the time reported an external shock. "It seemed to be a shock from outside," he said
However, until the report was published yesterday, the official position in Seoul was to resist directly accusing the unpredictable North of deliberately attacking the Cheonan, although the senior officials made it clear this is what they believe happened.
The issue is set to dominate the agenda during Hillary Clintons Asian tour which begins today.
Kurt Campbell, Americas most senior diplomat for Asia, said a central issue of discussion for the US Secretary of States talks with Chinese officials would be their assessments of developments in North Korea and their reaction to the report.
The United States strongly supports the investigations conclusions and has a deep, enduring and profound (interest) in the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, he said.
In a telephone conversation with Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Lee promised strong measures against Pyongyang for the attack.
Resolute countermeasures will be taken against North Korea, Mr Lee said
South Korea, through strong international cooperation, should make North Korea admit its wrongdoing and return as a responsible member of the international community, he added.
The ships sinking is expected to be taken before the UN Security Council.
A torpedo part recovered from the Yellow Sea in the area in which the South Korean ship the Cheonan sank
North Korea has threatened all out war if there is any retalation from Seoul for the torpedo attack which sank the South Korean warship Cheonan in March.
Pyongyang made the threat as it dismissed as fabrication a report by an international team of investigators which concludes that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine was responsible for the explosion that ripped the 1,200 tonne corvette in two, killing 46 sailors in one of South Koreas worst naval tragedies.
In an escalating war of words, President Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean president vowed to take resolute counter-measures against North Korea for the torpedo attack on the Cheonan, which happened near the disputed border between the two countries.
The investigators report, published today, is understood to include a computer simulation of the attack in which the Cheonan is shown being struck by an acoustic homing torpedo armed with a quarter-tonne warhead.
It concludes: The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine.
There is no other plausible explanation.
Britain and the US immediately threw their support behind the reports findings. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, condemned the attack and its total indifference to human life.
The UK and international partners are committed to working closely with the Republic of Korea as they consider an appropriate multilateral response to this callous act, he said.
The White House described the attack as an act of aggression that constituted a challenge to international peace and security.
The ship was on routine patrol in the Yellow Sea near Baengnyeong Island, a heavily garrisoned outpost that lies off the North Korean coast when it suddenly exploded and sank. The maritime boundary has been disputed since the ceasefire that ended fighting in the Korean war in 1953.
Almost immediately speculation began that it had been deliberately targeted by North Korea.
The 58 crew members rescued after the blast said in a press conference that they believed the explosion had come from outside the corvette. Captain Choi Won Il said officers at the time reported an external shock. "It seemed to be a shock from outside," he said
However, until the report was published yesterday, the official position in Seoul was to resist directly accusing the unpredictable North of deliberately attacking the Cheonan, although the senior officials made it clear this is what they believe happened.
The issue is set to dominate the agenda during Hillary Clintons Asian tour which begins today.
Kurt Campbell, Americas most senior diplomat for Asia, said a central issue of discussion for the US Secretary of States talks with Chinese officials would be their assessments of developments in North Korea and their reaction to the report.
The United States strongly supports the investigations conclusions and has a deep, enduring and profound (interest) in the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, he said.
In a telephone conversation with Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Lee promised strong measures against Pyongyang for the attack.
Resolute countermeasures will be taken against North Korea, Mr Lee said
South Korea, through strong international cooperation, should make North Korea admit its wrongdoing and return as a responsible member of the international community, he added.
The ships sinking is expected to be taken before the UN Security Council.
