U.S. to discuss Korea ship sinking with partners in six-nation talks
WASHINGTON. May 21. KAZINFORM The U.S. will continue discussions on a South Korean warship which was sunk by a North Korean submarine in March with its partners in the six-nation talks, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department has said; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
A team of international investigators confirmed on Thursday that the 1,200-ton Cheonan corvette was sunk by a torpedo launched from a North Korean submarine. Forty-six sailors died on the night of March 26 when the ship went down near the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea following a sudden explosion.
"We think the results are categorical. We will obviously consult closely with the five parties as to what the appropriate next steps should be. That's one of the reasons why the Secretary will be meeting with her counterparts in Tokyo and Beijing and Seoul," Philip Crowley said.
"I think one of the hallmarks of our policy towards North Korea over the past 15 months has been the strong consensus that we have had and maintained with China, with Russia, with Japan, with South Korea, on this process," the spokesman added.
The six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program involved Russia, Japan, China, the United States and the two Koreas. They came to a halt a year ago.
Crowley said the U.S. "will be guided by actions that South Korea wishes to take," but called on the North to recognize that "provocative actions will not be tolerated and that there will be consequences for those."
The White House described the ship's sinking as a challenge to international peace and security. North Korea has called the results of the investigation "a fabrication."
Crowley ruled out any unilateral sanctions against North Korea in connection with the sea incident; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.