Hopes fade for 46 lost in S. Korean ship blast
Source: Agencies |
March 28, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
South Korea yesterday all but ruled out the chance that North Korea was involved in the sinking of one of its navy vessels near their disputed border.
Initial speculation that North Korea might have sunk the ship had spooked Wall Street on Friday. Share prices dipped partly on geopolitical concerns and the won dropped against the dollar.
"Given investigations by government ministries so far, it is the government's judgement that the incident was not caused by North Korea, although the reason for the accident has not been determined yet," a senior government official was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
Hopes faded yesterday for the rescue of 46 marines missing after an explosion sank the South Korean military ship in one of the South's worst naval disasters.
Divers tried unsuccessfully twice to get to the wreckage, said Rear Admiral Lee Ki-sik of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Navy and coast guard vessels, as well as air force planes, were searching the waters near South Korea's Baengnyeong Island where the 1,200-ton Cheonan sank early yesterday in bad weather and rough waves during a routine patrol mission.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said an explosion tore a hole in the rear of the Cheonan late Friday night, shutting off the engine, wiping out power and taking the ship down a little over three hours later.
There was speculation the ship may have hit a wayward mine.
The defence ministry said 58 of the 104 crew on board had been rescued.
Initial speculation that North Korea might have sunk the ship had spooked Wall Street on Friday. Share prices dipped partly on geopolitical concerns and the won dropped against the dollar.
"Given investigations by government ministries so far, it is the government's judgement that the incident was not caused by North Korea, although the reason for the accident has not been determined yet," a senior government official was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.
Hopes faded yesterday for the rescue of 46 marines missing after an explosion sank the South Korean military ship in one of the South's worst naval disasters.
Divers tried unsuccessfully twice to get to the wreckage, said Rear Admiral Lee Ki-sik of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Navy and coast guard vessels, as well as air force planes, were searching the waters near South Korea's Baengnyeong Island where the 1,200-ton Cheonan sank early yesterday in bad weather and rough waves during a routine patrol mission.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said an explosion tore a hole in the rear of the Cheonan late Friday night, shutting off the engine, wiping out power and taking the ship down a little over three hours later.
There was speculation the ship may have hit a wayward mine.
The defence ministry said 58 of the 104 crew on board had been rescued.
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