Warship sinking caused by close-range external explosion: officials

(ATTN: UPDATES with defense minister's remarks and funeral ceremony in paras 5-8;
12-14)
SEOUL, April 25 (Yonhap) -- A team of military and civilian investigators has
tentatively concluded that the mysterious sinking of a South Korean warship last
month was caused by a strong, close-range external explosion rather than a direct
hit, government officials said Sunday.
"An initial inspection of the bow of the Cheonan salvaged Saturday led
investigators to reach a preliminary conclusion that the warship was destroyed by
a non-contact external explosion," a ranking government official said.
"Instead of being directly hit by a torpedo or other underwater weapon, the
Cheonan was affected by a strong explosion that occurred below its bottom at a
close range," the official said, confirming an earlier investigation result
announced shortly after the salvage of the warship's stern 10 days ago.
The Cheonan broke in half and sank on March 26 after an unexplained blast 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 dead. The 58 others were rescued
before the vessel sank.
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young also said that the most likely cause of the
sinking of the Cheonan was the "bubble jet" created by an external explosion
under the ship.
"A factor that is believed to be close to a bubble jet effect most likely caused
the Cheonan to sink, though the possibility of other causes is still under
investigation," Kim told reporters at a news conference in Seoul.
The minister estimated it would take about one month for the joint investigation
team to come up with its final result.
According to researchers, a bubble jet effect occurs when a mine or torpedo goes
off under a ship at some distance. The bubble jet creates a huge column of water
due to the change in pressure that impacts the ship.
The rear half of the ship was pulled from the sea on April 15. After an initial
examination of the wreckage, investigators said an unidentified "external
explosion" was the most likely cause, bolstering suspicions of North Korea's
involvement, possibly in a torpedo or sea mine attack.
The site is near where the two Koreas fought bloody skirmishes in 1999, 2002 and
last November. North Korea has rejected allegations of its involvement in the
sinking of the Cheonan.
The preliminary investigation result came as the families of the 46 dead sailors
began a five-day mourning period on Sunday.
The bereaved families and the Navy agreed to hold a joint funeral ceremony at a
naval command in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Thursday.
The Navy 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. It also said an altar will be set up at 89 major
military bases nationwide in honor of the deceased seamen.
The Seoul metropolitan government announced it set up an altar at Seoul Plaza in
the center of the capital Sunday afternoon to allow ordinary citizens to offer
their condolences.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)