[Bible Prophecy News] ‘All out war’ threatened over North Korea attack on warship Cheonan

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

Perilous Times

From Times Online
May 20, 2010

‘All out war’ threatened over North Korea attack on warship Cheonan

Anne Barrowclough

North Korea has threatened “all out war” if there is any retalation from Seoul for the torpedo attack which sank the South Korean warship Cheonan in March.

Pyongyang made the threat as it dismissed as ‘fabrication’ a report by an international team of investigators which concludes that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine was responsible for the explosion that ripped the 1,200 corvette in two, killing 46 sailors in one of South Korea’s worst naval tragedies.

In an escalating war of words, President Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean president vowed to take “resolute countermeasures” against North Korea for the torpedo attack on the Cheonan, which happened near the disputed border between the two countries.

The investigators’ report, published today, concludes: “The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine.

“There is no other plausible explanation.”

Britain and the US threw their support behind the report’s findings. William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, condemned the attack and its ‘total indifference to human life’.

“The UK and international partners are committed to working closely with the Republic of Korea as they consider an appropriate multilateral response to this callous act,” he said.

The White House described the attack as an act of aggression that constituted a challenge to international peace and security.

The issue is set to dominate the agenda during Hillary Clinton’s Asian tour which begins today.

Kurt Campbell, America’s most senior diplomat for Asia, said “a central issue of discussion” for the US Secretary of State’s talks with Chinese officials would be “their assessments of developments in North Korea and their reaction to the report.”

The United States “strongly supports” the investigation’s conclusions and “has a deep, enduring and profound (interest) in the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” he said.

In a telephone conversation with Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Lee promised strong measures against Pyongyang for the attack.

“Resolute countermeasures will be taken against North Korea,” Mr Lee said

South Korea, through strong international cooperation, “should make North Korea admit its wrongdoing and return as a responsible member of the international community”, he added.

The ship’s sinking is expected to be taken before the UN Security Council.