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Sunken ship found off North Korea S Korea divers reach sunken ship
(about 1 hour later)
The South Korean military says it has located the stern of its warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday following an explosion. South Korean divers have reached a warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday after a blast.
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 divers tapped on the stern of the Cheonan, where some of the 46 missing crew members are believed to have been trapped, but heard no response.
Military diving teams were due to begin a search for survivors. The authorities are hoping some of the crew may be alive but trapped in underwater air pockets in the wreckage.
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. South Korea'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 an explosion broke 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. Defence ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said the navy divers had reached both sections of the Cheonan, lying 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. Relatives of the missing have been demanding answers from officials
"Divers confirmed the location of the rear part and installed a buoy there," said Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Lee Ki-shik. They used hammers to knock on the stern, which 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.
He told a news conference underwater cameras would be sent down to search for possible trapped survivors. "But so far there is no response from the inside," Mr Won told a news conference.
But it is now a race against time, our Seoul correspondent John Sudworth says. Earlier attempts to reach the vessel had been hampered by strong currents and murky waters.
If any of the 46 missing crew members are still alive, calculations suggest that any oxygen in the trapped air will soon run out.
Yonhap news agency quoted officials as saying that parts of the ship were able to shut out water for a maximum of 69 hours.Yonhap news agency quoted officials as saying that parts of the ship were able to shut out water for a maximum of 69 hours.
President Lee Myung-bak urged rescuers not to give up hope of finding survivors and to investigate all possible causes of the sinking.President Lee Myung-bak urged rescuers not to give up hope of finding survivors and to investigate all possible causes of the sinking.
"Look into the causes of the incident thoroughly and leave no single piece of doubt behind," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying."Look into the causes of the incident thoroughly and leave no single piece of doubt behind," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
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.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.
Relatives of those missing have angrily demanded progress and answers from officials.
"We are running out of time," one woman told reporters.
Mine theoryMine theory
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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.
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.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."Though many mines were removed, it must have been impossible to retrieve them all," AFP quoted him as saying.
North Korea has made no official comment on the incident.