Thaindian News

Seoul, May 20 (IANS) A South Korean navy warship that sank near a maritime border with North Korea in March was torpedoed by a DPRK submarine, a multinational team of investigators said Thursday.
According to Xinhua, civilians and military experts said the 1,200-ton warship Cheonan sunk as a result of an “external underwater explosion” caused by a torpedo fired by a DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) submarine.

“The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine. There is no other plausible explanation,” they said in a statement.

A joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) assessed that “a strong underwater explosion generated by the detonation of a homing torpedo below and to the left of the gas turbine room” caused Cheonan to split apart and sink, the statement said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak vowed to take “firm measure” against the DPRK.

However, the DPRK has already denied its involvement in the accident.

Wednesday, DPRK’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea released a statement, accusing South Korea of taking advantage of the sinking of its warship to push north-south relations to a catastrophe.

Meanwhile, China Thursday called upon the two countries to maintain calm.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said all parties should exercise calmness and restraint, properly deal with the issues and avoid escalation of the situation.

“China is always devoted to safeguarding regional peace and stability, and promoting the progress of the six-party talks on the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” he was quoted as saying.

The 1,200-ton “Cheonan” with 104 crew members onboard went down March 26 near the South Korean island of Baekryeongdo off the west coast after an explosion, killing 46 crew members.