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S Korea divers reach sunken ship S Korea divers search sunken ship
(about 5 hours later)
South Korean divers have reached a warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday after a blast.South Korean divers have reached a warship that sank in mysterious circumstances on Friday after a blast.
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.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.
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; South Korea says it is open-minded about the blast's cause.
The vessel sank close to the sea border with North Korea; the South says it is open-minded on the cause of the blast. But the country's defence minister said it could have been caused by a North Korean mine.
South Korea's defence minister said it could have been caused by a drifting mine. At the weekend, rescue officials said an explosion broke the ship into two.
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. Fifty-eight crewmen were saved but the others are missing. The authorities said they hoped they were trapped in underwater air pockets in the wreckage.
Rescue raceRescue race
Defence ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said the navy divers had reached both sections of the Cheonan, lying on the sea bed. A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lee Ki-shik, said divers had reached the sunken vessel.
Relatives of the missing have been demanding answers from officialsRelatives of the missing have been demanding answers from officials
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. "There was no response when military divers knocked on the hull of the ship's rear," he told journalists.
"But so far there is no response from the inside," Mr Won told a news conference. "Divers went underwater several times, working in a very limited time of about seven to eight minutes each time, but failed to find any survivors."
Earlier attempts to reach the vessel had been hampered by strong currents and murky waters.Earlier attempts to reach the vessel had been hampered by strong currents and murky waters.
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. South Korea 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, 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. Relatives of those missing have angrily demanded progress and answers from officials. "We are running out of time," one woman told reporters.
"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.
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. South Korean 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.
"Or we have to see whether North Korea has intentionally set a mine adrift," he added.
North Korea has made no official comment on the incident.North Korea has made no official comment on the incident.