The+Situation+on+the+Korean+Peninsula

**__​The Situation on the Korean Peninsula__** **__​__** On March 26th 2010, South Korean Pohang-class corvette ROKS Cheonan (PCC-722) broke in two with an explosion, causing it to sink close to the sea border of North Korea. Soon after the sinkage of the Cheonan corvette, investigation was conducted with team of experts from different countries: United States, United Kingdom, Austrailia, Russia and Sweden. After the investigation, they conlcuded that Cheonan (corvette) was sunk by a torpedo. They maintained that the torpedo was launched by a North Korean Yeono class miniature submarine. However, North Korea denied any involvement in the sinking of Cheonan.

//**Sinkage of the Cheonan Corvette**//

The 1,200 tonne corvette was constructed and launched in November 1989 from Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea. It had the length of 88 meters and could held 104 crews maximum. It was mainly used for coastal patroling near the Yellow Sea for anti-submarine operations.

On March 26th 2010, the Cheonan corvette was on a routine patrol mission in the Yellow Sea holding 104 crews. Then with an underwater explosion, the ship started to sink at local time of 21:20 about 1.9km away from the south-west coast of Baengyeong Island, which was located on the South Korean side of the Northern Limit line (boudary that divides South from North Korea). Due to the sudden unidentified explosion, all 104 crews were at the time of sinking. In the end, total of 58 crews were rescued. Another body of the 46 crews were saved few months after South Korea pulled out the corvette from the water by a large floating crane. The captain of the Cheonan said that after the exposion, it only took vey short time for the ship to sink, which did not gave him enough time to alert the crews inside. In addition, the coastal guards who were at the rescue mission after the explosion said that due to fierce waves at the time, it was extremely difficult to look for survivors.



**//What Caused the Sinkage?//**

Currently, since May 20th 2010, South Korea officially accused North Korea for the sinkage of the Cheonan corvette. From what South Korea and other nations have discovered, they have concluded that the torpedo was from North Korea. They presented clear evidence, including part of a torpedo propeller that had a serial number which the investigation teams believe it is a North Korea's possession. However, North Korea affirmed that the findings were fabricated and strictly warned that it will wage "all-out war" if it's punished.



There were other speculations about the sinkage. The South Korean Defense official, Kim Tae Young has put forth possible explanation to the sinkage of Cheonan corvette: an underwater mine. He said it could have been caused by one of the thousands of Soviet underwater mines placed by North Korea during the Korean War. Many mines were removed after the war, but it must have been impossible to retrieve them all. He also said that it could be a mine that is intentionally placed by North Korea.

There are more possible explanation to the sinkage of Cheonan corvette, but yet the **actual reason of the sinkage** is undiscovered.

**//United Nations//**

On June 4th 2010, South Korea's Ambassador to the United Nations, Park In Kook, formally requested the Security Council to take up the matter of the sinkage of Cheonan corvette, which have been carreid out by North Korea.

Then on July 9th 2010, the Security Council officially condemned the recent sinkage of a South Korean naval vessel, stressing the needs to pevent further attacks agains the East Asian nation and in the region. It added that it condemns on the attack itself and not on any nation. The Security Council expressed its dep concern over the recent findings of the torpedo which is speculated as North Korea's possession, but noted that North Korea has stated the it was not responsible with the incident. In result, they proposed and encouraged that "the settlement of outstanding issues on the Korean peninsula by peacefu means to resume direct dialogues and negotiation through appropriate channels as early as possible, with a view to avoding conflicts and averting escalation".

//** ﻿U.S - S. Korea Joint Military Exercise **//