April 27, 2010
The South Korean Defense Ministry believes that a torpedo sank the frigate Cheonan last month, the Scotsman reports.
While Defense Minister Kim Tae Young did not directly blame North Korea, Pyongyang's involvement is strongly suspected.
"The bubble jet effect caused by a torpedo is the most likely cause for the blast," Kim told a press conference. In such instances, he said, a rapidly expanding bubble caused by an underwater explosion forms a destructive column of water.
Damage on the recovered portions of the ship is consistent with such a blast, said South Korean officials.
The U.S. also is said to believe a torpedo was the cause, though saying it did not make a direct hit, reported All Headline News.
The frigate was split in half by an explosion on March 26. The bodies of 40 of the ship's 104 crew members have been recovered; six are still missing.
Paid Military Periscope subscribers can get more information on the Cheonan at:
http://www.militaryperiscope.com/weapons/ships/frigcorv/w0007476.html
http://www.militaryperiscope.com/cgi-bin/news/archive/shownews.pl?date=20100422&recordnum=8284
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