News / Asia

South Korea Raises Second Half of Sunken Warship

TEXT SIZE - +

South Korea's military has recovered the remaining section of a warship that sank last month after an explosion that a media report blames on North Korea.

Salvage teams raised the stern of the 1,200-ton vessel Cheonan with a large crane Saturday.

A body was found inside the recovered section, bringing the official death toll to 40. Six sailors remain missing and are believed dead. The coast guard rescued 58 crew members from waters near the blast site.

There were 104 sailors on board the ship when it exploded and sank March 26, during a regular patrol in the waters near the disputed border with North Korea.

Some media reports suggest that the ship was attacked with a torpedo from a North Korean vessel. Pyongyang has denied any involvement in the sinking of the Cheonan.

Investigators say there is evidence that the ship exploded because of a strong impact from the outside. Seoul has refrained from blaming Pyongyang for the incident until its experts carry out a thorough investigation. The United States has offered to help with the effort.

North Korea Saturday warned the United States and South Korea that it will employ "all means, including the nuclear deterrent" if they intrude into its territory. The state-run Korean central News Agency quotes army chief Ri Yong Ho as saying North Korea's armed forces are "fully ready to frustrate any provocation of the aggressors at a single blow."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday urged Pyongyang not to "engage in provocative actions," and said she hopes there is no "miscalculation" or action that could lead to conflict.

North Korea last year abandoned six-nation talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear arm programs in exchange for aid and energy.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

You May Like

China Pushes Back on US Criticism of Human Rights

China has long rejected outside criticism of human rights abuses as interference in its internal affairs More

Some Accuse US of Hypocrisy Over Pakistan Doctor Case

They cite US prison sentence against man who spied for Israel More

'Outrage' Over US Prostate Cancer Testing Recommendation

New federal task force recommendation to cease routine prostate-cancer screening tests is stirring up controversy in the medical community More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Latest Asia News

Afghan Parliament Approves Strategic Partnership with US

More

Afghan Parliament Approves Strategic Partnership with US

More

Afghan Parliament Approves US Partnership

More

US Drone Strike Kills 3 Militants in Pakistan

More

Climbers Crowd Mount Everest Despite Deadly Week

More
Read more

Vietnam says Dow Chemical shouldn't sponsor the Olympics

More

Has Vietnam's economy turned a corner?

More