UNSC to discuss sunken South Korean ship

South Korean warship, which allegedly was sunk by North Korea in March


Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=134028§ionid=351020405


The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet to discuss a draft declaration on the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship.

The UNSC was to meet late on Thursday to discuss the alleged sinking of the Cheonan by North Korea and issue a statement on the event, AFP reported.

After a weeks-long investigation, Seoul announced that North Korea was responsible for the sinking, while Pyongyang has strongly denied any involvement.

North Korea has called for a new joint probe by both Koreas "to verify objectively the truth of the incident," warning that its military forces will respond, should the Security Council question or condemn the country over the incident.

The sinking of the Cheonan warship, which killed 46 sailors near the North Korean maritime border, has intensified tension in the Korean Peninsula.

The sinking marked the worst naval disaster in South Korea's history since the Korean War (1950-53) -- which ended in an armistice signed on 27 July 1953.

The five permanent members of UNSC are divided in the issue of Korean warship.

While South Korea and the US are trying to draw a strongly worded statement from the Council, China and Russia have been reluctant to identify North Korea as the offender.

China, the North's closest ally, has opposed harsh sanctions and direct condemnation of Pyongyang for the incident and has recently urged the US and South Korea to scrap their plans to hold drills in the Yellow Sea in a show of force against the North.