https://freerepublic.com/tag/baengnyeongisland/ en-us Fri, 2 Apr 2010 10:33:32 GMT Focus Forum 15 https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485202/posts 04-02-2010 18:41 'Torpedo More Probable Cause Than Mine' President Lee Myung-bak offers his condolences Friday to family members of the late Han Joo-ho, the Navy warrant officer who died Tuesday after experiencing decompression sickness during an operation to rescue missing sailors of the sunken Cheonan, at a memorial service in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. / Korea Times By Jung Sung-ki, Lee Tae-hoon Staff Reporters Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said Friday that the more-likely cause of the Cheonan's tragic sinking was a torpedo attack rather than an underwater mine. ``Both torpedoes and mines are possible causes of the sinking. But I believe... Korea Times https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485202/posts#comment Fri, 2 Apr 2010 10:33:32 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2528800/posts The night a torpedo-armed North Korean submarine allegedly sank a South Korean patrol ship, the U.S. and South Korea were engaged in joint anti-submarine warfare exercises just 75 miles away, military officials told The Associated Press. The blast that sank the Cheonan, the worst South Korean military disaster since the 1950-53 Korean War, showed how impoverished nations such as North Korea can still inflict heavy casualties on far better equipped and trained forces, even those backed by the might of the U.S. military. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that plans for more joint U.S.-South Korea anti-submarine exercises, announced after... Military.com https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2528800/posts#comment Sun, 6 Jun 2010 08:01:43 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2513970/posts Beijing is approaching the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan with caution to avoid damaging its relations with its fraternal communist neighbor North Korea, U.S. officials say. In this April 24, 2010 file photo, a giant offshore crane salvages the bow section of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan off Baengnyeong Island, South Korea. AP/Yonhap, Choi Jae-Ku Chinese President Hu Jintao offered sympathetic remarks on the sinking of the Cheonan during a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak at the opening of the Shanghai World Expo. But Chinese state-run media did not report Hu's comments. According to non-Chinese... East-Asia-Intel https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2513970/posts#comment Sat, 15 May 2010 04:19:30 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2504182/posts South Korea's military is increasingly confident that a North Korea submarine was involved in the explosion and sinking of a South Korean warship that has left 38 dead and eight missing. The 1,200-ton navy corvette, the Cheonan, was ripped apart on March 26 during a routine patrol near the tense border with North Korea. It was "most likely to be attacked by either a mine or a torpedo from a North Korean submarine," a military official said. South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan sails during a naval operation on the sea March 23, just three days before it sank off Baengnyeongdo,... East-Asia-Intel.com(subscription) https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2504182/posts#comment Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:19:13 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2504277/posts A team of scientists believes that the Navy corvette Cheonan sank after being hit by a heavy 206 kg torpedo that ran at a speed of 65 km/h. Bae Myung-jin, a professor at the Sound Engineering Research Lab of Soongsil University, on Thursday said his team analyzed data about the seismic waves generated at the time of explosion of the Cheonan, which were provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. "As a result, we presume that the torpedo ran at the Cheonan at the speed of 65.7 km/h and exploded underwater 2.3... Chosun Ilbo https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2504277/posts#comment Sat, 1 May 2010 01:03:09 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2496397/posts Military officials and experts believe that if a North Korean torpedo was involved in the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan, it was probably launched from a 325-ton Shark-class submarine. The sub ranks between a full-blown submarine and a mini-sub in terms of size. South Korean military intelligence are reportedly focusing on the fact that one or two Shark-class submarines from a submarine base in Cape Bipagot, South Hwanghae Province are unaccounted for during the time of the Cheonan's sinking. The Bipagot submarine base is around 80 km from Baeknyeong Island. Shark-class submarines can travel at speeds of... The Chosun Ilbo https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2496397/posts#comment Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:48:50 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495368/posts The tattered stern of a South Korean naval warship that mysteriously exploded and sank near the western sea border with North Korea arrived in its home port Saturday for investigation. A giant barge carrying the wreckage weighing some 500 tons was towed into the 2nd Navy Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers southwest of Seoul shortly after 7 p.m. A multinational team of investigators, including those from the United States and Australia, waited on shore for the arrival of the stern. Officials said missiles and other weapons on aboard will be removed Sunday before a probe begins in earnest. The... Yonhap News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495368/posts#comment Sun, 18 Apr 2010 07:49:30 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495326/posts Salvage crews have raised the stern or rear portion of a South Korean Navy ship that mysteriously sunk in the Yellow Sea on March 26th. The bodies of 36 crew members were also recovered. Initial reports suggested a North Korean torpedo may have been responsible. But just as tensions between the two rivals were escalating, the cause of the incident became murkier. What is clear is some sort of explosion caused the Cheonan to split in two and then sink. Many of the crew members were rescued by South Korean ships that rushed to the scene, but at least 44... Fox News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495326/posts#comment Sun, 18 Apr 2010 05:00:20 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495322/posts 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... http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0416/Why-South-Korea-hesitant-to-blame-North-Korea- https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2495322/posts#comment Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:51:12 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2494086/posts An "external explosion" is likely to have caused a South Korean naval ship to sink near the sea border with North Korea, a chief investigator said Friday after experts examined the ship's wreckage retrieved a day earlier. "Rather than an internal explosion, the possibility of an external explosion is very high," said Yoon Duk-yong, co-head of the state investigation team looking into the March 26 sinking of the 1,200-ton patrol ship Cheonan. "But for a final conclusion, it is necessary to make a detailed analysis while leaving all possibilities open." Yoon, a renowned scientist named to lead the investigation along... Yonhap News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2494086/posts#comment Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:27:30 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2493323/posts South Korea lifted its sunken warship Thursday in waters near the tense border with North Korea, about three weeks after it went down following a mysterious explosion with dozens of sailors believed trapped inside. Bad weather and heavy seas have impeded efforts to locate the 44 missing crew and salvage the wreckage of the 1,200-ton Cheonan. On Thursday, a huge naval crane hoisted the stern — where most of the missing sailors are believed trapped — a day after divers succeeded in tying the wreckage with chains. Footage by TV broadcaster SBS showed the stern being hoisted about 10-13 feet... Associated Press via Yahoo News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2493323/posts#comment Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:47:50 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2489470/posts South Korean sailors who escaped a warship which sank last month have said they felt a large "external blast" before the ship went down. Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, the sailors said the ship had been operating normally before it sank off Baengnyeong Island. Officials in Seoul say they still do not know what happened to the Cheonan, which was carrying 104 crew. Two of the crew are known to have died, and 44 are still missing. Officials have said the incident will be thoroughly investigated and have cautioned against speculation that North Korea could be... BBC News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2489470/posts#comment Fri, 9 Apr 2010 02:07:13 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2486788/posts 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... The Chosun Ilbo https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2486788/posts#comment Mon, 5 Apr 2010 05:56:57 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2486787/posts President Lee Myung-bak stressed Monday that his government will not rush through its investigation into the recent sinking of a Navy ship at the expense of "accuracy," especially given the international community's keen attention to the incident. "Given the examples of disasters in various advanced nations, accuracy is more important than speed in determining the cause of this kind of big incident," Lee said in his biweekly radio address. He asked the people to "wait patiently, although it will be painful, as a joint investigation team from the government, military, and civilian sector is already conducting an on-site investigation." The... Yonhap News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2486787/posts#comment Mon, 5 Apr 2010 05:50:57 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485836/posts South Korea's defence minister said Friday that a torpedo might have sunk a warship near the tense North Korean border but cautioned that the investigation was incomplete."A torpedo or a sea mine might have been involved but a torpedo is a more realistic cause than a mine," minister Kim Tae-Young told parliament as divers resumed a search for 46 sailors missing from the 1,200-tonne corvette. Sailors operating the ship's sonar detection system had not detected any approaching torpedo, Kim said, adding: "Patience is needed until investigation results come out." A week after the disaster, officials are still groping for answers... AFP https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485836/posts#comment Sat, 3 Apr 2010 05:33:54 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485103/posts Defense Ministry Says No North Korean Submarine Detected large flock of birds or a North Korean midget submarine? That is one of the questions surrounding the inexplicable sinking of the ROK Navy's patrol ship, the 1,200-ton Cheonan, off Baengnyeong Island in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) last Friday night. As things stand now, just an hour after an explosion on the Cheonan broke it into two before it sank, its sister frigate Sokcho fired 130 rounds from its 76mm main canon. This took place at 10:57 p.m. The Navy and the Defense Ministry maintained that the shooting took place as... Korean Times https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2485103/posts#comment Fri, 2 Apr 2010 03:57:01 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2484342/posts Defense Minister Kim Tae-young on Monday suggested that the 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan may have hit an old North Korean mine before it sank in waters near the de-facto maritime border in the West Sea on Friday night. "Neither the government nor the Defense Ministry has said that there is no possibility of North Korean involvement," Kim told the National Assembly's Defense Committee. "We need to reach a conclusion after looking at all possibilities." Kim said one of them is that an old North Korean sea mine drifted into the area. "North Korea brought in about 4,000 sea mines from the... The Chosun Ilbo https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2484342/posts#comment Thu, 1 Apr 2010 03:40:06 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2482782/posts The sinking of the naval patrol ship Cheonan could forever remain a mystery because of the difficulty in proving the cause, experts say. The Cheonan reportedly entered waters 1.8 kilometers southwest of Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea in following an emergency route to evade high waves and rough seas on the day of the accident. Government sources and military officials said the exact cause of the sinking will be disclosed only after a close inspection of the Cheonan’s stern is conducted. Yet chances are high that the vessel sank because of an explosion caused by a mine. Even if... Donga.com https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2482782/posts#comment Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:22:54 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2481923/posts The government has yet to present a clear-cut explanation on how the naval patrol boat Cheonan sank Friday evening or countermeasures. Worse, surviving crew members have given differing statements about the incident, fueling suspicion over the disaster. 1. Vessel split into two? External attack suspected Until soon after the accident, an explosion of unknown cause reportedly created a hole in the bottom of the Cheonan’s hull. The vessel sank three hours later at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Cheonan Captain Choi Won-il told a briefing for the families of the 46 crew members who went missing Saturday, “One second after the explosion,... Donga.com https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2481923/posts#comment Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:38:07 GMT https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2441195/posts South Korea's military is considering positioning a weapon-locating radar system on islands near the Yellow Sea border, in a bid to better monitor artillery firing by North Korea, a lawmaker who was briefed on the plan said Friday. In a meeting with lawmakers of the National Assembly defense committee, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said that the military will push to deploy artillery hunting radars, called TPQ, on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island just south of the western inter-Korean sea border, Rep. Kim Hak-song who chairs the committee said.The radar system is capable of detecting hostile artillery by tracking projectiles in... Yonhap News https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2441195/posts#comment Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:48:54 GMT