S. Korea declares national mourning period for Cheonan sailors

SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday declared a five-day national
mourning period in memory of 46 sailors killed in the sinking of the Cheonan
naval patrol ship last month.
April 29, the day of a joint funeral for the seamen, has also been designated as
a national day of mourning, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan said in a public
statement.
"The funeral for the 46 fallen crewmen of the Cheonan will be held April 29 in
the name of the Navy," Chung said, referring to the funeral ceremony scheduled to
take place at a naval base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on
Thursday.
"The government will carry out an objective and thorough investigation into the
cause of the disaster and take stern measures accordingly. It will also
thoroughly review the nation's defense posture," said Chung.
The government has decided to posthumously promote all of the 46 dead seamen by
one rank and award them all the Hwarang Cordon of the Order of Military Merit, in
honor of their patriotism.
The Cheonan sank on March 26 after an unexplained blast broke it in half near the
western sea border with North Korea. Forty of the ship's 104 crew members have
been confirmed dead. Six more still remained missing, but the government and
their families have agreed to classify them as killed in action. The 58 others
were rescued before the vessel sank.
During the mourning period, all civil servants will wear black ribbons to express
their condolences, and national flags will be flown at half-mast at all
government buildings on the day of the funeral.
All central and provincial government offices will also be asked to refrain from
sports and festive events during the five-day mourning period.
The Navy said an altar will be set up at 89 major military bases nationwide in
honor of the deceased seamen. The Seoul metropolitan government announced earlier
it set up an altar at Seoul Plaza in the center of the capital to allow ordinary
citizens to offer their condolences.
brk@yna.co.kr
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