South Korea, “Tian An” explosion ship sank on March 26 after nearly two months have passed, South Korea is scheduled on May 20 announced a formal investigation report, the incident also may be submitted to the Council.
According to Xinhua quoted the Yonhap and YTN television reported that the ROK Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said in Seoul on the 19th, have been identified leading to “Tian” was alert because the vessel sank torpedo explosion incident.
Reported that when asked by reporters whether North Korea sank for a “security” ship, he replied: “I’m sure so.” “Reference News” newspaper and the website of China Radio International, also cited South Korean media, “North Korean torpedo sank the ‘Tian’ ship” in the media.
However, the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of 17, said, “Tian” has nothing to do with North Korea ship incident. This is also the incident, North Korean officials for the first time made known their stand.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, 15, said that China hopes relevant parties to the peace and stability on the peninsula and the region overall situation, remain calm and exercise restraint and properly handle relevant issues.
South Korean workers began to evacuate
South Korea, “Chosun Ilbo,” 19, reported the South Korean government officials confirmed that a core, “Tian” ship was sunk by a torpedo attack, and has acquired a torpedo can prove the origin of key evidence, that the submarine found a sunken ship a more complete torpedo propeller, by a reading above the serial number and confirmed the Korean font and engraving style.
The official said from the United States, Australia and other countries, experts on an analysis of the propeller serial number, agreed to sink the “Tian” is the North Korean torpedo ship production.
Private and official from the Republic of Korea and the United States, Australia and other countries in the joint investigation team of experts to collect the propeller with seven years ago, the Korean exercise compared with the light torpedo propellers, two propellers material similar to the final confirmation.
Joint investigation team also used computer simulation test preliminary view of the warhead weighing about 250 kg weight torpedo, in the “Tian” ship gas turbine room about 3 meters below the water exploded.
“Chosun Ilbo,” said, given the crucial evidence has been found, therefore, the South Korean government officially announced in the 20 survey results, will take retaliatory measures.
18, Yonhap said, the Government called for joint projects by the Permanent Mission of the DPRK’s Korean pay attention to security. At the same time, retention of staff in Korea South Korea began to withdraw, as at 8 o’clock on the 18th, there are 892 South Koreans to remain in the territory of North Korea.
US-ROK consultation response
South Korea’s “Central Daily” reported on 18, 17, the South Korean government source said, “will South Korea’s UN Ambassador, submitted to the UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea to clarify the necessity of letters, in order to start the delivery of United Nations procedures for handling the incident.”
19, Yonhap reported that South Korean government on the 18th afternoon inviting Russia, Japan, ROK Ambassador to South Korean Foreign Minister, presented to them in advance, “Tian” ship incident findings.
At the same time, South Korean Foreign Minister also plans to Britain, France and other permanent and non-permanent Security Council members individually or collectively explain the findings. South Korea’s Defense Ministry is also considering, if necessary, will be publicly displayed their countries military attaches “Tiananmen” cut off surface ships.
19, Yonhap said South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on the 18th morning phone call with U.S. President Barack Obama said: “According to the joint investigation team of ‘Tian’ findings sinking ship, as determined by the DPRK.”
The two leaders decided that the future will be in the diplomatic, military pressure on North Korea. Although the day of the Korea-US leaders did not discuss specific measures, the two government staff, have been adopted to strengthen ROK-US military exercises against the DPRK by force of demonstration programs in-depth discussions.
An anonymous South Korean government official said the two countries is being considered on a regular basis on the west coast, “Tian military exercise” (tentative name), to strengthen the warning on the North Korean submarines.
There are two options under discussion: to promote the Council for further sanctions against the DPRK; prohibited by Cheju Strait, the Korean merchant; parked near the front lines in the re-launch of the DPRK psychological warfare; break except Kaesong industrial park outside of the cause of all other economic exchanges and cooperation.
“Washington Post” and other U.S. media quoted a notice published in the White House on the 18th, said Washington, “Tian” ship survey results are published, it will coordinate with the ROK to the Security Council in the event programs, and full support for South Korea to take the various response measures.
North Korean officials for the first time position
According to South Korean media quoted North Korea’s Central Television news, the Standing Committee on the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Yang Hyong Sop, vice chairman of 17, said: “South Korea insists the United States launched its invasion of the North follow the provocation of war caused the ship (” Tian An “ship) sinking , and we (North Korea) together, and has been continually create extreme confrontation. ”
“Chosun Ilbo,” 18, said North Korean officials said himself, “Tian” ship event, this is the first time. North Korea in April 17 by Korean Central News Agency, “military commentator” article, this: “the South Korean government fabricated the facts and spread ‘Tian’ ship sinking with the DPRK about the rumors … …” Korean media said at the time, it was the “Tian An “ship 22 days after the incident mentioned in the event the Korean media.
In addition, North Korea by South Korea and the West as “unofficial spokesman” of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences Dr. Jin Mingzhe, May 5 in Hong Kong, “Asia Times,” a paper that stressed that North Korea would not attack “Tian” ship, the culprit may be United States warships or military aircraft.
Yonhap quoted KCNA 18 reported: “According to the Standing Committee of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly’s decision, the 12th will be the third meeting in Pyongyang on June 7 meeting.”
North Korea on April 9 at the 12th just the second meeting, held within two months, another Supreme People’s Assembly.
“Central Daily” said that leader Kim Jong-il system is in place in 1998, meets twice a year for the first time in the Supreme People’s Assembly. AFP was analyzed that the meeting focuses on “Tian” ship incident, tensions on the peninsula.
