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UN considers Korea warship move UN condemns Korea warship sinking
(about 7 hours later)
By Barbara Plett BBC UN correspondent Tensions remain high over the sinking of the Cheonan Tensions remain high over the sinking of the Cheonan in March
The UN Security Council is considering a draft statement condemning the sinking of a South Korean warship. The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, but in a concession to China it has not blamed North Korea.
The draft, put forward by the US, "deplores the loss of life" on the corvette Cheonan but does not blame North Korea directly for the attack. A statement expressed "deep concern" over the finding by a South Korean-led inquiry that North Korea was behind it.
Instead, it expresses deep concern about the findings of a multinational investigation which found Pyongyang responsible for the sinking. But the Security Council also "took note" of Pyongyang's insistence "it had nothing to do with the incident".
The incident, in March this year, left 46 sailors dead. Seoul's investigators concluded a North Korean torpedo had struck the Cheonan in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 sailors.
The draft statement takes note of North Korea's insistence that it had nothing to do with the sinking, and stresses the importance of a peaceful settlement of the issue. The Security Council statement, read out by Nigeria's permanent representative at the UN, said the attack had endangered "peace and security in the region and beyond".
Western diplomats said China had blocked attempts to condemn North Korea, at least partly to avoid any action from its unpredictable ally that could escalate tensions in the region. It also praised South Korea's government for the "restraint" it had shown since the incident and called for "appropriate and peaceful measures to be taken against those responsible".
Last month, North Korea's UN ambassador said his country's military would respond forcefully to any Security Council criticism. Pyongyang defiance
The statement has already been approved by the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, China, Britain, France and Russia. Correspondents say the text appeared to fall short of what had been demanded by Seoul and the US, which drafted the statement.
It must be now adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, which is expected to reach agreement on Friday afternoon. Last month, US President Barack Obama said the Security Council had to ensure there was a "crystal clear acknowledgement that North Korea engaged in belligerent behaviour that is unacceptable to the international community".
Western diplomats said Beijing had blocked attempts to condemn North Korea, at least partly to avoid any action from its unpredictable ally that could escalate tensions in the region.
North Korea's permanent representative to the UN had said his country's military would respond forcefully to any criticism.
On Friday, South Korea announced it would stage a naval exercise with the US in the Yellow Sea to deter North Korean "provocation".