S Korea takes punitive measures against DPRK over warship sinking
SEOUL. May 24. KAZINFORM South Korea unveiled Monday a series of punitive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the sinking of a South Korean naval warship; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak warned in a nationally televised speech that the country will resort to measures of self- defense if the DPRK further wages aggression, saying Pyongyang's alleged sinking of its 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan in late March resulted from a surprise torpedo attack.
"North Korea (DPRK) will pay a price corresponding to its provocative acts. I will continue to take stern measures to hold the North accountable," Lee said.
"From now on, the Republic of Korea (South Korea) will not tolerate any provocative act by the North and will maintain the principle of proactive deterrence. If our territorial waters, airspace or territory are violated, we will immediately exercise our right of self-defense," a grim-faced Lee said.
His strongly worded speech came after an international team of investigators announced their findings last week and blamed DPRK for sinking the warship which killed 46 sailors.
Seoul has invited experts from the United States, Sweden, Britain and Australia to join the probe team; Kazinform cites Xinhua.