South Korean warship sinks off coast of N.Korea

[Michael]

South Korean navy ship sinks near sea border with North

About 40 sailors are missing after a South Korean navy ship sank near the border with North Korea, Yonhap news agency said citing military officials.

The patrol vessel, with 104 people aboard, sank after an unexplained explosion tore through its hull.

Several sailors also died, officials are quoted saying as divers prepared to return to the scene after daybreak.

South Korean officials played down earlier reports that it may have been the result of an attack by North Korea.

There was no sign of the North's military in the area where the ship sank, Yonhap said citing officials.

The military earlier said 58 sailors were rescued from near Baengnyeong island by several navy and coastguard vessels.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who had convened an emergency meeting of security officials, had ordered the military to focus on rescuing the sailors, Yonhap news agency reported.

The police force was put on heightened alert in the capital, Seoul.

The Cheonan, a 1,200-tonne corvette, began sinking about 2130 local time (1230 GMT) on Friday, after an explosion, the South Korean Navy said.

A South Korean presidential spokeswoman said it was premature to say what caused the Cheonan to sink.

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm)

I'd expect more details on this story in the coming days. If a North Korean vessel was involved, it could be serious trouble. Warships don't just sink all by themselves very often. :shrug:

[The Drunk Guy]

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8589507.stm)

I'd expect more details on this story in the coming days. If a North Korean vessel was involved, it could be serious trouble. Warships don't just sink all by themselves very often. :shrug:
I heard this on the radio yesterday at lunch and I could have sworn they said something about a S. Korean ship in the area opening fire on an unidentified vessel after the explosion on this ship. :ummm:

[Donkey]

I heard this on the radio yesterday at lunch and I could have sworn they said something about a S. Korean ship in the area opening fire on an unidentified vessel after the explosion on this ship. :ummm:
Apparently they fired on a flock of birds.

[The Drunk Guy]

Apparently they fired on a flock of birds.
Excellent! Pesky sea-vermin. :sneaky:

[Michael]

Officials appear to be concluding that this was a genuine 'accident' and did not involve N.Korea.

That's damn good news. Not for the guys on the sinking ship, but for everyone else anyway! ;)

[Michael]

The plot thickens!

U.S. official: N. Korea torpedo likely sunk S. Korean warship

A North Korean torpedo attack was the most likely cause for the sinking of a South Korean warship last month, according to a U.S. military official.

The United States believes the ship was sunk by the blast of an underwater explosion, but that the explosive device itself did not come in contact with the hull of the South Korean ship, the official said. This is the same conclusion expressed by South Korean military officials.

The U.S. Navy has an investigative team assisting the South Koreans.

The U.S. official declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter and due to the fact neither South Korea or the United States has publicly discussed any potential response.

Source (http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/26/u-s-official-n-korea-torpedo-likely-sunk-s-korean-warship/)

Not sure what to make of this other than the typical N.Korean "look at me" type stunt that they seem to have a bizarre passion for.

Apparently S.Korea is downplaying the incident for fear of provoking a war that they do not want.

Tense situation all around.

[Michael]

Evidence of a North Korean torpedo has been found.

The joint investigation team has reportedly found screw pieces of torpedo, probably causing the sinking of the Navy patrol ship Cheonan, near the border waters in the West Sea where the incident took place in late March.

The Korea Broadcast System (KBS) reported Tuesday that the team has launched close checking of the findings in a non-destructive testing. "The manufacturers of the screw are shortlisted to two countries Russia and China," KBS reported, quoting government officials who were not identified.

The screw, which is a part that creates power to propel the torpedo in the tail, has been regarded as a decisive clue to the cause of the incident as it does not destruct in general even during an explosion.

The government is ready to make it clear that the corvette was sunk by the torpedo and North Korea will be responsible for torpedo attack as the government has already secured pieces of material evidence, including screw part, when it announces investigation results May 20.

Source (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/116_66062.html)

Looks like the situation in the Koreas is getting a bit more tense than usual...

[Non Sequitur]

Evidence of a North Korean torpedo has been found.



Source (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/116_66062.html)

Looks like the situation in the Koreas is getting a bit more tense than usual...

That is a little frightening

[Michael]

That is a little frightening

Yes, it is. Though it is does appear to fall within the 'range' of quasi-normative behavior from N.Korea under the Kim dynasty. They really are rather paranoid and psychotic over there and have done stuff like this in the past. They do seem to take some bizarre pleasure in making such 'provocations'.

S.Korea seems to be quite mature about the whole thing, with a calm and measured response - pretty much waiting for US confirmation of everything before making any formal announcements at all about the issue and then doing so in full media spotlight, without making any accusations at all - just the facts.

It almost seems like a game of blackmail, where N.Korea tries to exact 'goodies' by promising to act nice - so they have to act badly now and again just to keep reminding everyone of the threat. Officially speaking, I believe N.Korea still considers itself at war with the US since no treaty has ever been signed to end the war. They just have a 'truce' (represented by the DMZ).

[Non Sequitur]

Yes, it is. Though it is does appear to fall within the 'range' of quasi-normative behavior from N.Korea under the Kim dynasty. They really are rather paranoid and psychotic over there and have done stuff like this in the past. They do seem to take some bizarre pleasure in making such 'provocations'.

S.Korea seems to be quite mature about the whole thing, with a calm and measured response - pretty much waiting for US confirmation of everything before making any formal announcements at all about the issue and then doing so in full media spotlight, without making any accusations at all - just the facts.

maybe that's because N. Korea has a huge army and no wants it to cross the DMZ

It almost seems like a game of blackmail, where N.Korea tries to exact 'goodies' by promising to act nice - so they have to act badly now and again just to keep reminding everyone of the threat. Officially speaking, I believe N.Korea still considers itself at war with the US since no treaty has ever been signed to end the war. They just have a 'truce' (represented by the DMZ).

that is true. There was the cease fire, but no peace treaty.

[Michael]

Looks like things are heating up in the Koreas - and not in a good way!

South Korea's military was tracking four North Korean submarines which disappeared from their east coast base after conducting naval training in the East Sea earlier this week, a military official in Seoul said Wednesday.

Locations of the North's four 300-ton-class submarines have been unknown for two days, the military official said, noting, "We are tracking the four submarines by mobilizing all naval capabilities in the East Sea."

The submarines left the Chaho base located near the Musudan-ri missile launch pad site in North Hamgyong province in North Korea's northeast coast, according to the official.

Source (http://www.informationdissemination.net/)

N.Korea is clearly playing some serious provocation games here. This is potentially serious. Thankfully, the US Government doesn't play the usual rhetorical games with N.Korea that it routinely plays with Iran.

So far S.Korea seems to be playing it all very low-key. Apparently that annoys the N.Koreans. :shrug: