Defense chief confirms explosive residue found

By Jung Sung-ki

Staff reporter

Defense Minister Kim Tae-young confirmed Monday that a multinational team investigating the March 26 sinking of the Navy vessel Cheonan has collected traces of a powerful explosive from the wreckage.

The team is analyzing the residue to determine whether or not a torpedo was the cause of the disaster, he told reporters at the ministry.

The minister said the high explosive, known as RDX, is used by many militaries and industries worldwide, rebutting claims that it is mainly manufactured in Western countries.

Some local newspapers reported last week that RDX is used by Western militaries, perplexing investigators increasingly pointing to North Korea as the culprit.

"It's not true that RDX is only used by Western countries," Kim said.

"Since it was first used during World War II, RDX has been used by many socialist countries, including the former Soviet Union. Currently, it is generally used by almost all militaries and at industry sites worldwide."

It is also used by some terrorists, he added.

RDX is used in bombs, mines and torpedoes, Kim said.

Investigators, including experts from the United States, Britain, Australia and Sweden, are also analyzing aluminum fragments found in the wreck to figure out if those were from a torpedo, Kim said.

He expressed concern about media reports suggesting the possibility of a reef as the cause of the deadly incident that claimed the lives of 46 sailors.

"The investigation team has already announced that the ship is believed to have been sunk by a non-contact, external explosion," the minister said. "Nevertheless, some are continuously raising the possibility of a reef or a collision with another ship. I expressed deep regret over this."

Later in the day, Kim met with Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, at the ministry and discussed the ship sinking, a ministry source said on condition of anonymity.

They shared the view that joint anti-submarine exercises off the west and east coasts should be strengthened, the source said. He did not elaborate.

The final results of the investigation are expected to be announced as early as next week, according to ministry officials.

Critics say the torpedo theory is called into question as there were no unusual military maneuvers by North Korean forces detected prior to the sinking.

If North Korea was planning a torpedo attack, the regime would have boosted its naval defenses, they say.

국방장관, 화약 침몰 배의 것 확인

김태영 국방장관은 월요일 천안함 침몰 사건을 조사중인 합동 조사단이 침몰 함정에서 강력한 화약 흔적을 채취했다고 확인했다.

김장관은 기자들에게 이 팀은 이 사고의 원인이 어뢰에 의한 것인지 여부를 확정하기 위해 잔류물을 정밀 분석 중이라고 밝혔다.

김장관은 RDX라는 고위 화약이 세계 많은 군과 산업에서 사용되고 있다며 이것이 주로 서방 세계에서 만들어진다는 주장을 반박했다.

일부 국내 신문들은 지난 주 RDX가 서방세계에서 사용되고 있다고 보도해 배후로 북한을 지목해가는 합조단을 어리둥절하게 했다.

김장관은 "RDX가 서방국에서만 사용되고 있다는 것은 사실이 아니다"며 "RDX는 2차대전 중 처음 사용된 이후 구 소련을 포함 많은 사회주의 국가들도 사용해왔다. 현재는 세계 거의 전 군과 산업에서 일반적으로 사용되고 있다"고 말했다.