South Korea’s president today bemoaned the “precious deaths” of dozens of sailors killed when an explosion destroyed their warship, as suspicion increasingly fell on a North Korean torpedo blast in the disaster.
Minister for Defence Kim Tae-young said an underwater explosion appeared to have ripped apart the 1,200-ton Cheonan on March 26th, and that a torpedo blast seemed the most likely cause.
Investigators who examined salvaged wreckage separately announced yesterday that a close-range, external explosion likely sank it.
The government has been careful not to blame North Korea outright.
Makeshift altars were set up across South Korea for a five-day mourning period that opened yesterday.
President Lee Myung-bak visited one of the shrines today to pay his respects.
PA