By Here is the latest evidence that the North Koreans may have been involved in sinking the South Korean naval vessel that has led to the loss of 46 lives:
The Chosun Ilbo newspaper said a North Korean submersible or semi-submersible vessel disappeared around the time of the ship’s sinking and has since returned to its base north of Baengnyeong Island. The report cited an unidentified government source with access to satellite pictures. But the source said the disappearance wasn’t unusual and that it would be difficult to connect it to Friday’s explosion.
South Korea’s YTN cable network reported that the Cheonan and another South Korean navy ship were sailing to the area where the vessel sank in response to the appearance of a North Korean semi-submersible vessel. The report cited an unidentified military official. The Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to comment, saying the matter pertained to military operations. [Associated Press]
Along with this information the ROK Navy has tentatively discounted an internal explosion as the cause. I am beginning to think more and more that this was a special forces operation with possibly a frogman swimming or using a raft to plant explosives at night on the side of the ship or some how launching a mine towards the ship.
If it is determined to be a North Korean provocation South Korea will have to respond in some way.
9:00 am on March 31st, 2010 1
Yes, I think a semi-submersible is highly likely. They're relatively cheap and could have been easily obtained through NK's links to drug trafficking. Narco subs from South America are very difficult to detect by the US Coast Guard.
And I also agree with you that a military response from South Korea is what the North may be after. It would build solidarity amongst the North's citizens, because their media would portray it as 'aggression'. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Now we can only hope that the ROK government is wise enough not to take the bait completely. I think the best course of action is to gather hard evidence, lodge a protest with the UN and use the affair to increase third party diplomatic pressure on China to stop supplying the NK military with heavy fuel oil.
10:21 am on March 31st, 2010 2
If anything, NK sold half-submersibles to drug traffickers. NK has been using half-submersibles since late 80's I think.
As hard as it maybe, SK will have to hold back. If SK does decide to retaliate in kind, my proposal is to SINK next NK patrol crafts that crosses the border line or fires upon a SK patrol crafts. Don't just put holes in it with 40mm shells. Sink them. IMHO.
Lightweight torpedo fired from half-submersible is my guess. Frogmen is very unlikely, considering how much difficulty the SK SSU is having…
10:26 am on March 31st, 2010 3
I think many people are wondering where this may be heading. The "old Korean war mine" seems to be losing favor. Revenge is a plate best served cold. I would hope if the SKs confirm it was a deliberate attack that it be accomplished with some finese.
11:21 am on March 31st, 2010 4
GET YOUR EMERGENCY SUPPLIES TOGETHER!
South Korea just sank TWO North Korean ships. North Korea has fired at least a dozen artillery rounds into Seoul. There has been some type of explosion in Pusan.
This is breaking news! More to come!
11:30 am on March 31st, 2010 5
joke or for real???
11:59 am on March 31st, 2010 6
check the calendar…it is 1 April…
12:02 pm on March 31st, 2010 7
ah yes, good ole' April fools on me . . .
12:26 pm on March 31st, 2010 8
Ah, yes… April Fools!
I got only a 20% sucker rate on this morning's text message… almost all from non-Koreans.
April Fools has caught on in Korea.
12:46 pm on March 31st, 2010 9
Internal explosions are inevitable on warships from time to time (eg. the Iowa, the Kursk, etc). Also, starting a war with the North would not be in the interests of the Korean ppl. While certain Americans will gleefully hope that this tragedy will cause warfare, the ppl of Korea know better than to start down that path and instead are seeking ways to prevent another such accident from occurring in the future.
12:47 pm on March 31st, 2010 10
Also, the latest evidence shows that the "warship" sighted in the area was actually a flock of birds. Get your story straight and stop inciting hatred.
1:41 pm on March 31st, 2010 11
North Korea is on the verge of collapse. It won't survive Kim Jong Il by more than a couple of years, if it doesn't collapse before he drops dead. So, what would be the use of starting a war with North Korea?
1:45 pm on March 31st, 2010 12
It caught on a long time ago in North Korea. "Comrade, you are being released from prison!" or "Comrade another bumper crop!" or "Chinese ship coming down!" or my favorite "We only desire a peacefull reunification with the War-mongering capitalitic lackey dogs of the imperialistic US in the South."
3:13 pm on March 31st, 2010 13
Ignorant twit, read what the site has actually been putting together. And note that GI Korea's suggestions for possible reactions IF NK is involved are all non-violent. Almost everyone on this site is strongly advocating avoiding a war, and you're an ignorant twit for suggesting otherwise.
11:06 pm on March 31st, 2010 14
Korea Teacher: 0
Nathan: 1
11:19 pm on March 31st, 2010 15
SK Government shifts tenor on N.Korea-Cheonan connection
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_…
Shipwreck Survivors Prevented from Telling Their Story
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010…
No N. Korean submarine detected on night navy ship sank: officials
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2010/04/01/0…
4:34 am on April 1st, 2010 16
@Korea Teacher
There is no firm evidence if it was a flock of birds or a warship (more like a half-submersible).
The radar on another 1200 ton PCC that was paired with PCC 722 (one that sank) was 2D not 3D, meaning it can measure distance to the target but not altitude of the target.
But we do KNOW a 1200 ton corvette has been sunk and there are FIRM evidences that it wasn't from hitting a rock or an internal explosion of any kind.
4:37 am on April 1st, 2010 17
@Korea Teacher
Whatever hatred NK leadership/military gets from us and others is very very well deserved.
They don't need anyone's help inciting hatred against them.
Don't forget that.
4:40 am on April 1st, 2010 18
Sure internal explosions happen on warships from time to time.
But PCC-772 did NOT sink from any kind of internal explosion. The damage and eyewitness report prove that it wasn't from an internal explosion.
Iowa – stern (back part of the ship) didn't break away in an instant.
Kursk – a submarine which means any breach in hull while submerged means well, a sinking.
BEFORE you say Americans or Koreans are inciting a war (not true at all), have you thought of who might sunk PCC-772?