Lee says probe into sunken ship to affect Seoul's international credibility

Yonhap News ^ | 4/01/2010 | Lee Chi-dong

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday that the ongoing investigation into the cause of a South Korean naval ship sinking is not just a domestic issue but is also related to Seoul's international credibility.

"As it is a very sensitive and important question, (the government) will find the cause through a thorough and scientific investigation," Lee said at the start of a weekly emergency economic meeting at his office, Cheong Wa Dae, according to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.

Despite the naval tragedy, Lee said the government should not be distracted from its duties in other areas. "That is why we are holding the emergency economy measure meeting today (as scheduled)," he said.

The session focused on discussing how to expand financial support for low-income households.

The president, who has been staging a "Global Korea" campaign, stressed that now is the time for South Korea to "act in a responsible manner as a member of the six-way talks (on the North Korean nuclear program) and chair country of the G-20 summit."

"There should be no suspicion or negligence" in the investigation or the government's affairs alike, he added. "That is the way for South Korea to gain trust in the international community."

[spyone]

Let’s see. Four days after one of their navy ships is cut in two and 40 sailors die, and they are still conducting their “investigation”. It’s all a mystery. They are right to be concerned about their reputation.

[dr_who]

Methinks he dost protest too much