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Sunken ship found off North Korea Sunken ship found off North Korea
(about 3 hours later)
The South Korean military says it has located the stern of its warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday following an explosion.The South Korean military says it has located the stern of its warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday following an explosion.
The authorities are hoping that some of the 46 crew members still missing may be alive but trapped in underwater air pockets in the wreckage.The authorities are hoping that some of the 46 crew members still missing may be alive but trapped in underwater air pockets in the wreckage.
Military diving teams were due to begin a search for survivors.Military diving teams were due to begin a search for survivors.
The vessel sank close to the sea border with North Korea; the South says it is open-minded on the cause of the blast.The vessel sank close to the sea border with North Korea; the South says it is open-minded on the cause of the blast.
The South's defence minister said it could have been caused by a drifting mine.
Rescue officials said at the weekend that the explosion had broken the ship into two parts. Fifty-eight crewmen were saved soon after the ship went down.Rescue officials said at the weekend that the explosion had broken the ship into two parts. Fifty-eight crewmen were saved soon after the ship went down.
Rescue raceRescue race
Navy divers have been hampered by strong currents and murky waters, but have now located the stern on the sea bed.Navy divers have been hampered by strong currents and murky waters, but have now located the stern on the sea bed.
It is the part of ship that contains the sleeping compartments and so is thought to be the most likely location in which survivors might be found.It is the part of ship that contains the sleeping compartments and so is thought to be the most likely location in which survivors might be found.
"Divers confirmed the location of the rear part and installed a buoy there," said Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Ki-shik.
He told a news conference underwater cameras would be sent down to search for possible trapped survivors.
But it is now a race against time, our Seoul correspondent John Sudworth says.But it is now a race against time, our Seoul correspondent John Sudworth says.
If any of the 46 missing crew members are still alive, calculations suggest that any oxygen in the trapped air will soon run out.If any of the 46 missing crew members are still alive, calculations suggest that any oxygen in the trapped air will soon run out.
The 1,200-tonne Cheonan naval patrol vessel sank near the disputed maritime border with North Korea but military officials say there is no indication the North was involved. Yonhap news agency quoted officials as saying that parts of the ship were able to shut out water for a maximum of 69 hours.
South Korea recognises the Northern Limit Line, drawn unilaterally by the US-led United Nations Command to demarcate the sea border at the end of the Korean War. President Lee Myung-bak urged rescuers not to give up hope of finding survivors and to investigate all possible causes of the sinking.
The line has never been accepted by North Korea, and the area has been the scene of deadly clashes between the navies of the two Koreas in the past. "Look into the causes of the incident thoroughly and leave no single piece of doubt behind," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
However our correspondent says that no unusual military movements were detected on Friday night, leading to speculation that the sinking was due to some kind of accident. Yonhap said 24 military vessels, with air support, were involved with the search. A US rescue vessel Salvo, with more than a dozen divers on board, has also joined the operation.
Tensions rise Mine theory
Meanwhile, North Korea has accused the South of psychological warfare for allowing journalists to enter the two countries' demilitarised zone (DMZ), and warned of "unpredictable incidents". The 1,200-tonne Cheonan naval patrol vessel sank near the disputed maritime border with North Korea - the Northern Limit Line - but military officials say there is no indication the North was involved.
"If the US and the South Korean authorities persist in their wrong acts to misuse the DMZ for the inter-Korean confrontation despite our warnings, these will entail unpredictable incidents including the loss of human lives in this area for which the US side will be wholly to blame," the statement said. South Korea recognises the line, drawn unilaterally by the US-led United Nations Command to demarcate the sea border at the end of the Korean War.
Dramatic warnings from the North are not unusual - on Friday the North had threatened "unprecedented nuclear strikes". But it has never been accepted by North Korea, and the area has been the scene of deadly clashes between the navies of the two Koreas in the past.
However, they are dissected by Korea-watchers for hints of movement on the primary issue of importance to North Korea's neighbours - its readiness to re-enter talks about how to end its nuclear programmes. Our correspondent says that no unusual military movements were detected on Friday night, however, leading to speculation that the sinking was due to some kind of accident.
Separately, North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday castigating the United Nations for its criticism of the North's human rights record. South Korea Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young said the explosion could have been caused by an old North Korean wartime sea mine which drifted into southern waters.
"Though many mines were removed, it must have been impossible to retrieve them all," AFP quoted him as saying.