N. Korea escalates threats over Cheonan

By Kim Se-jeong

Staff reporter

North Korea spewed more threatening rhetoric against South Korea Friday, a day after releasing evidence of their role in torpedoing its naval vessel Cheonan in March.

North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, an organization dealing with South Korean affairs, announced that South Korea's findings were a sheer fabrication that could even cause war to break out.

"We consider the current situation as a state of war and will deal with it accordingly," as announced by North Korea's state television.

The Cheonan, a 1,200-ton patrol ship, sank after an explosion on March 26, resulting in 46 deaths.

A multinational investigation team in an official report explained how a North Korean submarine had infiltrated South Korean waters and torpedoed the vessel.

The statement by North Korea warned that if the South Korean government retaliates against the North in relation to the Cheonan sinking, adding, "we will consider terminating inter-Korean relations, breaking the non-aggression pact with South Korea, and scrapping all existing North-South economic cooperation."

North Korea also demanded that its inspectors be allowed to visit South Korea over the weekend to conduct their own probe.

"We warn our traitors (South Korea) that they will have to present definitive proof that is suspicion-free. In response to any type of punitive measure, we will retaliate, even with an all-out war."

As of Friday morning, South Korea did not officially respond.

"Authorities will begin discussions on Friday afternoon," which will determine whether or not to accept the North's request, according to Col. Yoon Won-sik from the Defense Ministry.

Regarding the threat of war from North Korea, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley said, "We're firmly committed to the security of South Korea. It is why we have an alliance with South Korea. We have our forces there to secure South Korea and the peninsula."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is slated to visit Seoul next week after touring Japan and China.