Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




NUKEWARS
Experts compare blast fragments to N.Korea torpedo: report
by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) May 13, 2010


Experts investigating the blast that sank a South Korean warship are checking salvaged metal fragments against a stray North Korean torpedo Seoul retrieved years ago, a report said Thursday.

South Korea has mounted a multinational probe into what caused the explosion that split the 1,200-tonne corvette the Cheonan in two near the disputed border with the North on March 26.

"Comparisons are under way to check if metal pieces recovered from the Cheonan are made of material similar to that of a North Korean torpedo," an unidentified military official told Yonhap news agency.

The official was quoted as saying the South's military obtained a North Korean torpedo off the west coast in 2003. The official did not elaborate and the defence ministry declined comment.

Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young earlier confirmed that traces of high explosive were found on the warship wreckage, indicating it was probably hit by a torpedo.

The minister also said metal fragments that did not appear to come from the ship had been found.

The investigation into the sinking, which killed 46 South Korean sailors, is due to report next week. The South is expected to take punitive action if the North, which has denied responsibility, is proved to have sunk the corvette.

President Lee Myung-Bak, who took office in 2008 and adopted a tougher line on cross-border relations, hinted last week North Korea was involved and promised a "resolute" response if this proved to be the case.

Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek dropped a similar hint Thursday.

"The sinking of the Cheonan has shown the world the cruel reality of division" on the Korean peninsula, he said in a speech to a forum.

Officials have said Seoul will try to report Pyongyang to the United Nations Security Council for possible further sanctions.

Local media reports have said it may reduce inter-Korean trade, especially items that could finance the North's military, and might block the North's freighters from using the Jeju Strait off South Korea's south coast.

The unification ministry, which handles cross-border relations, declined to comment on a report by Chosun Ilbo newspaper that the ministry has worked out a package of sanctions.

The paper said these could include a ban on imports of sand and fisheries products from the North.

Trade in sand for construction was worth 70 million dollars in 2008 to the North, and trade in fisheries products was worth 173 billion won (151 million dollars) in 2009, Chosun said.

Yonhap said the government is also urging some South Korean companies to halt new investment in a jointly-run industrial estate at Kaesong north of the border, and not to sign new business deals.

The South is also considering resuming loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the border, for the first time in almost six years.

.


Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








NUKEWARS
Explosive traces found in the Cheonan
Seoul (UPI) May 11, 2010
South Korea's defense minister warned against premature conclusions over the sinking of the Cheonan warship after traces of explosives were found in the wreckage. Defense Minister Kim Tae-young confirmed that government investigators found evidence of the powerful explosive RDX in parts of the raised hulk of the Cheonan. But he asked that people be patient and wait for a forthcom ... read more


NUKEWARS
LRO Team Helps Track Laser Signals To Russian Rover Mirror

Lunar Polar Craters May Be Electrified

Seed Bank For The Moon

Craters Around Lunar Poles Could Be Electrified

NUKEWARS
Mars Image Takes Earth Photo Event To A New World

Mars500 European Crew Selected And Ready To Go

Opportunity Drives Twice This Week

New Martian Views From Orbiting Camera Show Diversity

NUKEWARS
Orphans Of Apollo: Los Angeles Film Premiere

DLR Tests New Sharp-Edged Spacecraft

NASA Chief Defends Obama's Space Plan

Alumnus Terry Hill: Creator Of The Master Spacesuit

NUKEWARS
Seven More For Shenzhou

China Signs Up First Female Astronauts

China To Launch Second Lunar Probe This Year

China, Bolivia to build communications satellite

NUKEWARS
ESA Giving A Spare Arm To Space Station

ISS Crew Set To Relocate Russian Spacecraft

Russian Space Freighter Undocked From ISS

Researchers To Send Bacteria Into Orbit Aboard Atlantis

NUKEWARS
Soyuz Consultation Committee Sets Inaugural Launch For Fourth Quarter Of 2010

Integration Of Soyuz' First And Second Stages Is Complete

Arianespace Signs Contract With HUGHES To Launch Jupiter

Energia Overseas Limited Assumes DIP Financing For Sea Launch

NUKEWARS
Planet discovered lacking methane

'This Planet Tastes Funny,' According To Spitzer

Small, Ground-Based Telescope Images Three Exoplanets

Wet Rocky Planets A Dime A Dozen In The Milky Way

NUKEWARS
Adobe fires back at Apple in Flash war

Making light work: The 50-year odyssey of the laser

Sharp develops 3D camera system for mobile phones

HTC strikes back at Apple with patent complaint




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement