North Korean torpedo sank Cheonan, South Korea military source claims

[Ryanr]

Looks like it was not, as previously speculated, an old mine: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...inking-torpedo

South Korea's military says that military intelligence gathered with the United States shows that a torpedo fired from a North Korean submarine sank its navy ship Cheonan last month.

The clearest sign yet that Seoul blames Pyongyang for what would be one of the deadliest incidents between the rivals since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War was reported by the publicy funded Yonhap news agency. It puts more political pressure on President Lee Myung-bak, but analysts do not see it triggering a war.

The military's intelligence arm sent the report of "certain" North Korean involvement to the presidential Blue House soon after the incident, Yonhap quoted a high-ranking military source as saying.

Lee's government has come under criticism for what many see as its overly cautious handling of North Korea's possible link to the sinking, which is thought to have killed 46 sailors. It has called for a thorough investigation.

Businesses have been calmed by the South's response. They see Seoul as unlikely to make aggressive moves that would escalate into armed conflict and harm the export-driven economies of north Asia, which is responsible for about one-sixth of the global economy.

South Korea's defence ministry had no comment on the report.

"North Korean submarines are all armed with heavy torpedoes with 200kg warheads," the military source was quoted as saying by Yonhap."It is the military intelligence's assessment that the North attacked with a heavy torpedo.

"The military intelligence has made the report to the Blue House and to the defence ministry immediately after the sinking of the Cheonan that it is clearly the work of North Korea's military," the source was quoted as saying.

South Korea has lifted the stern of the 1,200-tonne Cheonan, a corvette, which went down near a disputed sea area with North Korea, and experts are examining the wreckage.

Analysts said there is little South Korea can do even if Pyongyang is found to be the culprit because a military response was likely to hurt its own recovering economy and bolster North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's standing at home.

Lee ended a decade of no-questions-asked aid to the North and called for a hardline push for Pyongyang to disarm.

"The nuclear issue has still not been resolved. This and the Cheonan incident all serve to inflict a negative impact on the Lee administration," said Lee Nam-young, a political analyst at the Sejong University in Seoul.

The reclusive North has denied it had anything to do with the sinking near the disputed area off the west coast that has been the scene of two deadly naval battles in the past decade.

It accused Lee of using the incident for political gain ahead of crucial local elections in June.

South Korea has few economic options left to hurt the North. It has already suspended $1bn in unconditional handouts.

Yonhap said the South Korean and US military suspected the North was stepping up drills to infiltrate a submarine south of the naval border, hidden among Chinese fishing boats, enabling it to spring a surprise attack against the South.

[Green Light]

Wars have started over MUCH less.

[Ryanr]

Originally Posted by Green Light

Wars have started over MUCH less.

Yeah, 46 sailors died in the attack -- I don't know how things work in South Korea but surely that's incredibly serious.

[incarcerated]

Originally Posted by Green Light

How unstable is the situation?

Not to worry. Everything is under control.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8639065.stm

North Korea 'to seize property at Kumgang resort'

Page last updated at 09:15 GMT, Friday, 23 April 2010 10:15 UK
North Korea is to seize five properties owned by South Korea at the Mount Kumgang tourist resort, say reports.

The North will either take ownership of the facilities itself or hand them to a new tourism partner, says state news agency KCNA.

Pyongyang has been angered by Seoul's suspension of tours to the resort, which was developed by a Southern firm.

The move comes as tensions rise over an unexplained blast which sank a South Korean ship, leaving more than 40 dead.

A North Korean tourism official said the properties were being confiscated "in compensation for the damage the North side suffered due to the suspension of the tour for a long period", KCNA reported....

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...wPUGzBMyTpwCjg

Clinton hopes no 'miscalculation' to spark Korean war

(AFP) – 17 hours ago
TALLINN — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday that she hoped there would be "no miscalculation" that could spark a new war between North and South Korea.

"I hope that there is no talk of war, there is no action or miscalculation that could provoke a response that might lead to conflict that is not in anyone's interests," the chief US diplomat told reporters.

Clinton had been asked to comment on North Korea's seizing South Korean-owned assets at a mountain resort and warning both sides were on the brink of war over the sinking of a warship on their disputed border.

"We have said time and time again that North Koreans should not engage in provocative actions and that they should return to the six-party talks," she said, referring to the talks for the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and other matters.

"The way to resolve the outstanding differences ... is to return to the six-party talks framework as soon as possible," she added in Estonia where she has been attending a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

[dennisw]

Looks as if North Korea believes they can anything they want with impunity.

"We have said time and time again that North Koreans should not engage in provocative actions and that they should return to the six-party talks," she said, referring to the talks for the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and other matters.

Provocative actions. Is that what were calling acts of war these days?

[glebo]

Originally Posted by dennisw

Looks as if North Korea believes they can anything they want with impunity.

Of course they do....look what we did (or didn't) do when the USS Cole got hit. This spineless admin will do nothing but issue "Strong words"



Provocative actions. Is that what were calling acts of war these days?

'Ol Teddy did it when the USS Maine was sunk.

[glebo]

Originally Posted by dennisw

Looks as if North Korea believes they can anything they want with impunity.





Provocative actions. Is that what were calling acts of war these days?

Of course they do....look what we did (or didn't) do when the USS Cole got hit. This spineless admin will do nothing but issue "Strong words"

'Ol Teddy did it when the USS Maine was sunk.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Ryanr

Yeah, 46 sailors died in the attack -- I don't know how things work in South Korea but surely that's incredibly serious.

How many Americans died from enemy action or terrorist attacks in the past 20 years without retribution?

What did we do when the Marine Barracks in Beirut were blown up, killing 241 Americans? Who was punished?

If you want to look at naval examples, what happened after the USS Stark was hit by the Iraqis in 1987, killing 37 Americans?

How about the USS Cole? 17 dead Americans, what happened?

No, the South Koreans are not acting much differently than we would have, so far.

TR$

[Richard]

Gulf of Tonkin redux?

Maybe there are elements within the ROK who think it's time to do something about the DPRK.

And so it goes...

Richard

[Ryanr]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

How many Americans died from enemy action or terrorist attacks in the past 20 years without retribution?

What did we do when the Marine Barracks in Beirut were blown up, killing 241 Americans? Who was punished?

If you want to look at naval examples, what happened after the USS Stark was hit by the Iraqis in 1987, killing 37 Americans?

How about the USS Cole? 17 dead Americans, what happened?

No, the South Koreans are not acting much differently than we would have, so far.

TR$

The only distinction I see is that most of those attacks were perpetrated by non-state actors, right? Not the USS Stark, but that was only 3 years before the first Gulf War. That said, I stand corrected, how frustrating... You're absolutely correct -- but it kills me to think that if there was a cut and dry case like this we wouldn't do more than send a strongly worded letter.

[Green Light]

Originally Posted by incarcerated

Not to worry. Everything is under control.

Clinton hopes no 'miscalculation' to spark Korean war

I feel better already. (Hope is not a plan)

[Dozer523]

It's really hard to punish a country that has nothing it holds dear; and even if they had something they valued, nobody would want whatever "that" was. (With apologies to all English teachers)

More interesting (initially wrote "troubling") is South Korea's deeper concern for the continued economic well-being / security over physical security / well-being. Are they mutually exclusive or mutually assured?

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Ryanr

The only distinction I see is that most of those attacks were perpetrated by non-state actors, right? Not the USS Stark, but that was only 3 years before the first Gulf War. That said, I stand corrected, how frustrating... You're absolutely correct -- but it kills me to think that if there was a cut and dry case like this we wouldn't do more than send a strongly worded letter.

We know who was behind most of those attacks, and what countries supported them.

We have generally demonstrated a lack of intestinal fortitude to retaliate.

TR

[Dad]

Another instance. Question, in case of war limited between the 2 Koreas,if that were possible, wouldn't the South Koreans maul the North?

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Ryanr

The only distinction I see is that most of those attacks were perpetrated by non-state actors, right? Not the USS Stark, but that was only 3 years before the first Gulf War.

The "First Gulf War" was the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). The attack upon the Stark took place during that conflict. And that conflict set the stage for Iraq's subsequent invasion and occupation of Kuwait.