Posted on 04/04/2010 10:56:57 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The military has given up the search for missing sailors and started efforts to salvage the Navy corvette Cheonan, which sank due to an unexplained explosion on March 26.
The decision follows a request from the families of missing sailors after several people died or were injured in search operations in treacherous waters. Navy Warrant Officer Han Joo-ho died on March 30 and the Kumyang 98, a dragnet trawler, sank during search operations in waters off Baeknyeong Island last Friday evening and crew died or went missing.
Experts speculate that the salvage operations will take at least 10 days even if the weather and other conditions are good.Navy Commodore Lee Ki-sik, the director of intelligence operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said as of midnight Sunday "we switched the focus to salvaging the sunken ship first."
In a press conference at 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, a spokesman for the families said, "Divers are in great danger of losing their lives if they attempt to swim into the wreck. We've asked Navy authorities to suspend search operations."
The Navy sent two more minesweepers equipped with sonar to the scene of incident.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.chosun.com ...
Are there any reports of how deep they are working?
The ship sank in 45 meter deep waters with a small portion of the overturned hull still visible above water.
I expect Obama's weakness to encourage a lot more things like this against smaller nations who depend on us.
They are working on it. President Lee has said that he will not be forced into making conclusions.
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