South Korea closer to blaming North for sinking ship

[IScreamSundays]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - South Korea came closer on Thursday to blaming North Korea for the sinking of a navy ship in March that killed 46 sailors with reports saying it plans economic measures to punish Pyongyang for a suspected torpedo attack.

South Korea has not officially accused the North of sinking its navy ship but has made little secret of its belief Pyongyang deliberately torpedoed the 1,200 corvette Cheonan near their disputed border in retaliation for a naval clash last year.

"The sinking of the Cheonan showed the cold hard realities of division (on the peninsula) for the world to see," South Korea's pointman on the North, Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said in some of the most pointed public comments Seoul has made in implicating Pyongyang.

Officials have previously said the ship was likely hit by a torpedo but have not mentioned the North as being behind the attack.

South Korea was expected to release its findings into the sinking of the Cheonan as early as next week, officials said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64C12D20100513

[David__77]

1. These skirmishes have been happening for decades.

The parties are technically still at war. A peace treaty with full diplomatic recognition, with the US, ROK, and DPRK, is the first and most important step forward.