N. Korea Cites Human Error in Crash

Yahoo!News ^ | Fri, Apr 23, 2004

[Kaslin]

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea (news - web sites) said Saturday that human error contributed to the deadly train explosion near the border with China, and expressed appreciation for offers of international humanitarian assistance.

North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, released its first statement about the disaster Thursday, saying the explosion occurred "due to the electrical contact caused by carelessness during the shunting of wagons loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer and tank wagons."

KCNA said "the investigation conducted so far shows that the damage is very serious."

The explosion at a railway station in Ryongchon reportedly killed several hundred people, and a U.N. mission and several aid agencies were traveling to the site.

"The DPRK government is doing its utmost to recover from the damage caused by the accident as early as possible and help the living of the people in the afflicted area return to normal," the agency said. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"It appreciates the willingness expressed by the governments of various countries and international bodies and organizations to render humanitarian assistance to the DPRK," the agency said.

[GeronL]

I am shocked they haven't gotten around to blaming US sabotage

[No Blue States]

"KCNA said "the investigation conducted so far shows that the damage is very serious."

Those are very sharp investigators.

[NJJ]

. . . human error contributed to the deadly train explosion . . .

Its hard to imagine what would be left to investigate to determine fault.

[GeronL]

Eagle Eyes.... yup, over a thousand homes knocked down and more than 6,000 heavily damaged... I wonder what the first clue was? That loud kaboom maybe?

[eastforker]

First it was LPG, then dynamite and now it's ammonia nitrate fertilizer. This just don't sound right.

[GeronL]

the story keeps changing

[Drammach]

Yepper, the old ammonium nitrite defence..

[No Blue States]

If Ill Kim did die, we will be punished with fake videos of him for years, im sure Al Jaqueera would air them.

Im not sure if he has be seen after this or not.

[First_Salute]

Terrorists, training for blowing up things by use of railroad tank cars ...

Training accident.

[Kaslin]

Don't give 'em any ideas

[GeronL]

OK.. I need a Hershey's Kiss.... BRB =o)

[Wissa]

Clinton would have blamed it on right-wing talk radio and internet sites.

[GeronL]

He still might =o)

[eastforker]

All joking aside, I would not be surprised that they may have their own brand of terror. The populace has been under the gun for a long time, literally.

[Hank Rearden]

Their whole miserable country is a "human error", right down to the ironically stupid name. "Democratic People's Republic" my ass.

[firehunter]

First it was gasoline and LPG (propane),
then it was dynamite.
NOW they expect us to believe they were SHUNTING a trainload of ammonium nitrate?
Why would you need to shunt ammonium nitrate?
It's a tertiary explosive, (assuming this load was explosive grade and not just fertilizer)and requires a primary AND a secondary to detonate.
Explosion caused by static?...Give me a break!

[White Eagle]

Sounds like the only accident is that whoever put this together missed Beloved Leader's train by a few hours.

[chance33_98]

N. Korea Cites Human Error in Crash

The error - the cia missed :) (for our freaky friends lurking from du who blamed bush...).

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

There's no telling what the real story is out of NK. Those dog eaters are so secretive they'd make Area 51 look like a tourist attraction.