I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
UN Command to probe if Pyongyang violated armistice agreement
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff reporter
The United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea said Friday that it will begin investigating whether North Korea's torpedoing of a South Korean frigate violated an armistice agreement or not.
The probe comes after the Ministry of National Defense requested the UNC investigate the case after North Korea denied its involvement in the sinking of the South Korean vessel near the West Sea border on March 26.
The disaster killed 46 South Korean sailors.
The UNC and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) will team up to "review the findings of the investigation and determine the scope of the armistice violation that occurred in the sinking of the Republic of Korea Ship Cheonan."
The multinational investigation team concluded Thursday that North Korea torpedoed the warship.
North Korea denied the findings, saying it was willing to send a team to the South to see if the evidence was true.
South Korea said the North officially made such an offer to the U.N. Command Military Armistice Commission as the two Koreas technically remain at war.
A government source said North Korea may be allowed to join the investigation if it promises not to take advantage of the probe and is willing to play its part sincerely.
Representatives from South Korea, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Turkey, Britain, the United States, Sweden and Switzerland and members of the NNSC will participate in the investigation.
The team will report its findings to the U.N.