Stern of the Cheonan
Posted on 04/17/2010 9:51:12 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Top South Korean officials moved inexorably Friday toward blaming North Korea for the sinking of a Navy ship three weeks ago, in a case in which many see the government's integrity and judgment in the balance.
While South Korea’s defense minister warned of “a grave national security issue,” the government clearly hoped to avoid an escalating crisis that might jeopardize economic success as well as the ability of President Lee Myung-bak to govern effectively.
The government “keeps saying there will be a firm response,” says Han Sung-joo, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, “but that doesn’t mean a military reaction or an eye-for-eye response.”
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young sought to end suspicions among South Koreans of a cover-up as investigators sifted through the wreckage of the stern of the ship in which dozens of sailors were trapped. The bodies of most of the 46 victims were recovered from that section, which broke off in the explosion, while 58 others in the forward portion escaped.
Yoon Duk-yong, one of the lead investigators, said the ship seemed to have been sunk by “an external explosion,” not by ammunition or fuel blowing up. A former South Korean submarine captain, Jung Sung, wrote in a newspaper here that it was “highly likely that a torpedo fired from a submarine or mine destroyed the ship.”
Mr. Kim promised to make public the results of the investigation “without leaving a dot of suspicion” – and then “work out the next step in a clear and stern manner.”
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
If you blame them, then you have to do something about it.
I doubt they are going to find any torpedo or mine parts clearly labeled “Made in North Korea” so without proof, there is not really that much you can do.
Yes, the Norkies are the obvious suspects, but saying that and proving that are two different things.
Sucks, but there it is...
Just a question?
Is it possible that So. Korea also placed mines in the border area, and it can’t be determined whose mines set off the destruction??
Just a question, that enquiring minds would like to know!
Politics before truth, nothing unusual here. Only 38 sailors are confirmed dead /sarc. I guess the body count is not high enough to justify definitive action.
>”Is it possible that So. Korea also placed mines in the border area”
Thats my thinking too. Possible it was a case of “wrong place at the wrong time”. So sad for the loss of life if it really was a horrible mistake.
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