lkdood
03-26-2010, 07:42 PM
A South Korean navy ship with about 100 personnel on board is sinking off the west coast near North Korea, possibly due to a torpedo attack, reports say.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47192000/gif/_47192629_n_s_korea_nl_226.gif
The ship was sinking near Baengnyeong island, Yonhap news agency quoted navy officials as saying.
It also said the South Korean ship had fired shots toward an unidentified ship in the North. The incident has not been confirmed by government officials.
A rescue operation was said to be under way, amid fears for the sailors.
The South Korean government has convened an emergency meeting, according to the officials.
The ministry of defence has not confirmed the reports of North Korean involvement.
The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval battles in 1999 and 2002 and of a fire fight last November which left a North Korean patrol boat in flames and one dead.
The South Korean vessel alleged that the North Korean vessel had crossed the disputed sea border - a charge North Korea denied.
BBC
UPDATE:
A South Korean navy ship sank off the west coast near its maritime border with North Korea, officials said Saturday, prompting President Lee Myung-bak to convene a late-night meeting of security-related ministers.
The 1,500-ton ship "Cheonan" went down around 9:45 p.m. near a South Korean island in the Yellow Sea, and 58 of the 104 crew members on board have been rescued so far, navy officials said.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47192000/gif/_47192629_n_s_korea_nl_226.gif
The ship was sinking near Baengnyeong island, Yonhap news agency quoted navy officials as saying.
It also said the South Korean ship had fired shots toward an unidentified ship in the North. The incident has not been confirmed by government officials.
A rescue operation was said to be under way, amid fears for the sailors.
The South Korean government has convened an emergency meeting, according to the officials.
The ministry of defence has not confirmed the reports of North Korean involvement.
The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval battles in 1999 and 2002 and of a fire fight last November which left a North Korean patrol boat in flames and one dead.
The South Korean vessel alleged that the North Korean vessel had crossed the disputed sea border - a charge North Korea denied.
BBC
UPDATE:
A South Korean navy ship sank off the west coast near its maritime border with North Korea, officials said Saturday, prompting President Lee Myung-bak to convene a late-night meeting of security-related ministers.
The 1,500-ton ship "Cheonan" went down around 9:45 p.m. near a South Korean island in the Yellow Sea, and 58 of the 104 crew members on board have been rescued so far, navy officials said.