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Russian specialists arrive in S. Korea to probe warship sinking

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A group of specialists from the Russian Navy arrived in Seoul on Monday to examine the results of an investigation that concluded a South Korean warship was sunk by North Korea

A group of specialists from the Russian Navy arrived in Seoul on Monday to examine the results of an investigation that concluded a South Korean warship was sunk by North Korea.

The 1,200-ton South Korean Cheonan corvette sank in the Yellow Sea on March 26 with the loss of 46 lives. An international investigation later confirmed the South's suspicions that the ship was destroyed by a torpedo launched from a North Korean submarine.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev decided to send the Russian specialists to Seoul last week. He said in a statement it was important to establish why the ship sank and who was responsible.

The statement said Russia believes it is important that all parties involved show restraint in the interests of avoiding further escalation of tensions and maintaining peace, security and stability on the Korean peninsula and the region as a whole. Russia expressed its readiness to continue close cooperation on this issue.

North Korea, angered by the accusations, declared on May 25 it was cutting all ties with Seoul and scrapping an agreement on preventing accidental naval clashes with South Korea. The two countries remain technically at war as their 1950-1953 conflict ended only in an armistice.

South Korea has frozen economic relations and maritime communications with its northern neighbor. The decision is yet another blow for the North's economy already damaged by past UN sanctions intended to force Pyongyang to quit its nuclear program.

South Korea, the United States and Japan are expected to raise the question of implementing further punitive measures on North Korea at the UN Security Council.

SEOUL, May 31 (RIA Novosti)

 

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