ID :
78771
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 12:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/78771
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea, U.S. examining motive behind N. Korean dam discharge: official
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Military officials from South Korea and the United
States are working together to determine whether North Korea deliberately
discharged water from a dam that left six South Korean campers missing over the
weekend, an official said Monday.
But South Korean defense spokesman Won Tae-jae denied speculation that unusual
activity may have been detected at the North Korean dam that sits on the Imjin
River before Sunday's incident.
"No signs were detected," Won told reporters, responding to questions over
whether radio communications to and from the dam had increased before it
discharged a large amount of water.
The floodwaters swept away six South Korean campers while the body of a boy, aged
four or five, was found apparently after it drifted from the North.
Won said South Korean and U.S. officials are working to identify North Korea's
motive behind the discharge. The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea
to monitor and deter North Korea.
"We have yet to identify it as an attack by flooding," he said.
North Korea's unannounced water discharges have occasionally caused damage to
farms in Yeoncheon County, 60km north of Seoul, since the North began building
dams near the border in 2000.
Sunday's incident will mark the first time that South Korean lives have been lost
if the campers are confirmed dead. The Koreas have yet to resume discussions on
water discharges.
Won said a South Korean army guard reported rising water levels early Sunday
morning, but the military command failed to notify the local government.
"It appears that the combined civilian and military defense system has not
practiced a scenario like this before," he said.
South Korea on Monday protested the unannounced discharge through an inter-Korean
hotline. The message, sent under the minister of land, transport and maritime
affairs, expressed "regrets" over the action.
South and North Korea remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce instead of a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Military officials from South Korea and the United
States are working together to determine whether North Korea deliberately
discharged water from a dam that left six South Korean campers missing over the
weekend, an official said Monday.
But South Korean defense spokesman Won Tae-jae denied speculation that unusual
activity may have been detected at the North Korean dam that sits on the Imjin
River before Sunday's incident.
"No signs were detected," Won told reporters, responding to questions over
whether radio communications to and from the dam had increased before it
discharged a large amount of water.
The floodwaters swept away six South Korean campers while the body of a boy, aged
four or five, was found apparently after it drifted from the North.
Won said South Korean and U.S. officials are working to identify North Korea's
motive behind the discharge. The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea
to monitor and deter North Korea.
"We have yet to identify it as an attack by flooding," he said.
North Korea's unannounced water discharges have occasionally caused damage to
farms in Yeoncheon County, 60km north of Seoul, since the North began building
dams near the border in 2000.
Sunday's incident will mark the first time that South Korean lives have been lost
if the campers are confirmed dead. The Koreas have yet to resume discussions on
water discharges.
Won said a South Korean army guard reported rising water levels early Sunday
morning, but the military command failed to notify the local government.
"It appears that the combined civilian and military defense system has not
practiced a scenario like this before," he said.
South Korea on Monday protested the unannounced discharge through an inter-Korean
hotline. The message, sent under the minister of land, transport and maritime
affairs, expressed "regrets" over the action.
South and North Korea remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce instead of a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
