By Katherine Lu
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| This is a piece of the torpedo found by investigators. |
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| On this map you can see the Northern Limit Line and the Cheonan sinking site. |
South Korea has warned that North Korea will face serious consequences for the sinking of a South Korean ship in late March, torpedo parts matching North Korean torpedoes were discovered in mid-May, as well as further evidence pointing to North Korea, though North Korea denies this accusation and claims that the evidence was fabricated and threatens to wage war if punished.
On March 26, the Cheonan, a South Korean patrol ship carrying 104 people on it, was attacked and began to sink near Baengnyeong Island, South Korea. A mysterious explosion had destroyed the hull of this 1,200-ton corvette, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard, though the 58 other sailors were rescued. With forty dead bodies that have been located, and six still missing, this has been the worst military disaster for South Korea since the Korean War ended in 1953. Furthermore, no one could figure out what had happened, though new evidence uncovered on May 15th points to North Korea.
After an international investigation, a report was released by investigators recently containing striking evidence on the 15th of May. Torpedo parts were discovered that completely matched the size and the shape of North Korean torpedoes. There were also markings that were discovered on the inside of the end of the propulsion section, which reads ‘1번.’ This marking matches the markings on a North Korean torpedo previously obtained by South Korea. Plus, the damage to the ship also supports this theory. The damage on the Cheonan was caused by a strong shockwave and the bubble effect, which caused the sinking of the ship, and both strong shockwaves and the bubble effect are caused by torpedoes. Bubble jets, or the bubble effect, are caused by a change in water pressure due to an underwater explosion. Moreover, the stern and bow were bent upward at the bottom, which is proof of an underwater explosion, and also supporting South Korea’s theory that the ship sank due to a North Korean torpedo. Deceased sailors also have supporting evidence, as they have lacerations, as well as fractures, though they don’t have any burns or fragmentations. These injuries are consistent with the effects torpedoes have, as well as the large shockwave and bubble effect that is thought to have caused the sinking of the patrol ship. All of the evidence so far has been pointing to North Korea, but North Korea has a different story.
According to North Korea, they had nothing to do with the sinking of the Cheonan, and also claim that the evidence that has been discovered was actually forged by the South Korean government. Meanwhile, South Korea’s President, Lee Myung-Bak, has stated that this attack was “a military provocation” and that they would take “stern action” against North Korea. Also, if this attack was caused by North Korea, it would be a violation of the Northern Limit Line, which is a maritime boundary line. This boundary was set by the US-led United Nations after North and South Korea couldn’t reach an agreement, but it was unilaterally set and North Korea doesn’t recognize it. Because of North Korea refusing to recognize the Northern Limit Line, violence occasionally occurs between North and South Korea’s naval forces along the NLL. Such incidents have been happening recently, and have become more frequent, as there have been three incidents in 2009 relating to the NLL, and two already this year in 2010, including this particular episode. However, technically, the two Koreas are still at war since South Korea never signed the 1953 armistice, which is an agreement between two countries at war to stop fighting. With tension rising between North and South Korea, the situation may escalate into war.
A few years ago, North Korea and South Korea were close to reconciling, but their relationship has taken a huge hit from this incident. In fact North Korea has cut all ties with South Korea because of this. The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s state news agency, announced on the 25th of May that North Korea would be severing all ties to South Korea. One of the ways they have cut ties is at the two Koreas’ joint factory on the border between them, North Korea has expelled all South Korean workers. This factory had both North and South workers, but now all the South Koreans are gone. Also, North Korea has cut communication with South Korea, as well as banning the South’s ships and planes from their airspace and waters. Furthermore, after South Korea accused North Korea and said that there will be consequences, North Korea threatens to retaliate.
Responding to South Korea’s statement that there will be consequences for North Korea, North Korea has claimed they will wage war. A North Korean Defense Spokesman said that North Korea would “respond to reckless countermeasure with an all-out war of justice.” If the Koreas wage war, then South Korea will probably have backing from the United States of America, along with other countries. North Korea’s previous ally was China, but China’s Wen Jiabao, who is the current Premier of the State Council of China, has said that “China objects to and condemns any act that destroys the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.” Wen Jiabao has also China “will not protect” those who destroyed the Cheonan in a conference in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. However, with the threat of war, would it still be a good idea for South Korea to punish North Korea?
“I think that South Korea should wait it out and make sure that it is definitely North Korea,” said Teresa Shaw. That could be one solution to this problem, but another student pointed out “If North Korea isn’t punished, then they could do something like this again, and I don’t think that they would actually wage war.” This may also be true, as South Korea has the backing of the USA, as well as other countries, and China, North Korea’s only ally, will not back them up if they really are the perpetrators of the sinking. Without any allies, North Korea probably wouldn’t start a war. Kacie Roman stated that the relationship between North and South Korea is “really sad,” and that “they are right next to each other so they should have a better relationship.” Hopefully, in time, North and South Korea’s relationship will improve.
On March 26, the Cheonan, a South Korean patrol ship carrying 104 people on it, was attacked and began to sink near Baengnyeong Island, South Korea. A mysterious explosion had destroyed the hull of this 1,200-ton corvette, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard, though the 58 other sailors were rescued. With forty dead bodies that have been located, and six still missing, this has been the worst military disaster for South Korea since the Korean War ended in 1953. Furthermore, no one could figure out what had happened, though new evidence uncovered on May 15th points to North Korea.
After an international investigation, a report was released by investigators recently containing striking evidence on the 15th of May. Torpedo parts were discovered that completely matched the size and the shape of North Korean torpedoes. There were also markings that were discovered on the inside of the end of the propulsion section, which reads ‘1번.’ This marking matches the markings on a North Korean torpedo previously obtained by South Korea. Plus, the damage to the ship also supports this theory. The damage on the Cheonan was caused by a strong shockwave and the bubble effect, which caused the sinking of the ship, and both strong shockwaves and the bubble effect are caused by torpedoes. Bubble jets, or the bubble effect, are caused by a change in water pressure due to an underwater explosion. Moreover, the stern and bow were bent upward at the bottom, which is proof of an underwater explosion, and also supporting South Korea’s theory that the ship sank due to a North Korean torpedo. Deceased sailors also have supporting evidence, as they have lacerations, as well as fractures, though they don’t have any burns or fragmentations. These injuries are consistent with the effects torpedoes have, as well as the large shockwave and bubble effect that is thought to have caused the sinking of the patrol ship. All of the evidence so far has been pointing to North Korea, but North Korea has a different story.
According to North Korea, they had nothing to do with the sinking of the Cheonan, and also claim that the evidence that has been discovered was actually forged by the South Korean government. Meanwhile, South Korea’s President, Lee Myung-Bak, has stated that this attack was “a military provocation” and that they would take “stern action” against North Korea. Also, if this attack was caused by North Korea, it would be a violation of the Northern Limit Line, which is a maritime boundary line. This boundary was set by the US-led United Nations after North and South Korea couldn’t reach an agreement, but it was unilaterally set and North Korea doesn’t recognize it. Because of North Korea refusing to recognize the Northern Limit Line, violence occasionally occurs between North and South Korea’s naval forces along the NLL. Such incidents have been happening recently, and have become more frequent, as there have been three incidents in 2009 relating to the NLL, and two already this year in 2010, including this particular episode. However, technically, the two Koreas are still at war since South Korea never signed the 1953 armistice, which is an agreement between two countries at war to stop fighting. With tension rising between North and South Korea, the situation may escalate into war.
A few years ago, North Korea and South Korea were close to reconciling, but their relationship has taken a huge hit from this incident. In fact North Korea has cut all ties with South Korea because of this. The Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s state news agency, announced on the 25th of May that North Korea would be severing all ties to South Korea. One of the ways they have cut ties is at the two Koreas’ joint factory on the border between them, North Korea has expelled all South Korean workers. This factory had both North and South workers, but now all the South Koreans are gone. Also, North Korea has cut communication with South Korea, as well as banning the South’s ships and planes from their airspace and waters. Furthermore, after South Korea accused North Korea and said that there will be consequences, North Korea threatens to retaliate.
Responding to South Korea’s statement that there will be consequences for North Korea, North Korea has claimed they will wage war. A North Korean Defense Spokesman said that North Korea would “respond to reckless countermeasure with an all-out war of justice.” If the Koreas wage war, then South Korea will probably have backing from the United States of America, along with other countries. North Korea’s previous ally was China, but China’s Wen Jiabao, who is the current Premier of the State Council of China, has said that “China objects to and condemns any act that destroys the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula.” Wen Jiabao has also China “will not protect” those who destroyed the Cheonan in a conference in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. However, with the threat of war, would it still be a good idea for South Korea to punish North Korea?
“I think that South Korea should wait it out and make sure that it is definitely North Korea,” said Teresa Shaw. That could be one solution to this problem, but another student pointed out “If North Korea isn’t punished, then they could do something like this again, and I don’t think that they would actually wage war.” This may also be true, as South Korea has the backing of the USA, as well as other countries, and China, North Korea’s only ally, will not back them up if they really are the perpetrators of the sinking. Without any allies, North Korea probably wouldn’t start a war. Kacie Roman stated that the relationship between North and South Korea is “really sad,” and that “they are right next to each other so they should have a better relationship.” Hopefully, in time, North and South Korea’s relationship will improve.
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