N. Korea sharply increased underwater military training in 2009: sources+

WASHINGTON, May 16 Kyodo -
U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies have learned that North Korea
increased the number of underwater practices by a special unit of its military
four times in 2009 from the previous year, U.S. and South Korean diplomatic
sources said Sunday.
The South Korean government might refer to the finding as part of
circumstantial evidence indicating North Korea's involvement in the sinking of
a South Korean warship in late March when Seoul makes an announcement on the
results of its investigation into the incident, the sources said. The
announcement is expected to be made around Thursday.
The intelligence agencies have also found that North Korea purchased underwater
radio communications equipment, believed to be for use by the special military
unit, from China and Russia in 2009, the sources said.
There is also information that a North Korean military commander was promoted
after the March 26 incident in the Yellow Sea.
Following an unexplained explosion near the maritime border between the two
Koreas, the 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan patrol ship was split in half and sank,
killing 46 sailors.
The South Korean government has not obtained evidence that clearly shows
Pyongyang's involvement, but suspicions are growing that a North Korean torpedo
attack sank the ship.
North Korea has strongly denied involvement in the incident.
==Kyodo