Russian military concluded inquiry into Cheonan

06.09.2010 Russian military experts have finished investigation into shipwreck reasons of S Korean corvette Cheonan; results were handed over to the Security Council, reported RIA Novosti referring to top-ranking representative of Russian defense ministry.

S Korean corvette Cheonan sank on March 26 near Seoul-controlled Baengnyeong Island close to the N Korean border as a result of strong explosion of unknown origin. There were 104 men on board, 46 sailors died, 58 escaped. Before sinking, the patrol ship split in two. S Korea and the US say the corvette was torpedoed by N Korea. Pyongyang denies any involvement in the incident.

UN Security Council criticized the attack led to the shipwreck of the S Korean warship in the Yellow Sea, although the council members did not accuse DPRK.

"Russian military experts have examined wrecks of Cheonan and available documents while being in S Korea. The investigation is over, all results have been handed over to national Security Council", said the interviewee.

He mentioned nothing about conclusions of inquiry as of the shipwreck's reasons, but said that "probable reason of the incident is external force on the hull".

According to him, it is not improbable that all conclusions of Russian investigators and results of various examinations will be given to S Korean party via diplomatic channels in the nearest future.