China offers condolence to S. Korea over Cheonan tragedy

The visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered his condolences to South Korea on Saturday over the fatal Cheonan tragedy, which an international inquiry earlier determined to be an act of North Korea, Yonhap news agency said.

In a meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan earlier Saturday, Wen expressed his "condolences to South Korean people and family members of the victims for the unfortunate incident," according to a South Korean official citing Wen's remarks.

It was seen as the first condolences by the Chinese premier on the matter.

Wen, who is on a three-day official visit to South Korea, told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Friday that Beijing won't defend whoever was responsible for the tragic incident that killed 46 crew members.

During the meeting with Chung, Wen yet reiterated his remarks made at a meeting with President Lee on Friday, apparently continuing his cautious approach over the sinking amid increasing pressure to join regional powers to seek further U.N. sanctions against the North for the sinking.

Tensions on the divided peninsula escalated sharply in the aftermath of the sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan near the Yellow Sea border with North Korea on March 26.

A multinational team of investigators, with "overwhelming" evidence, concluded on May 20 that North Korea was behind the attack.