By Kim Young-jin
Staff Reporter
Turkey has pledged to support South Korea, following the conclusion by an international group of investigators that a North Korean torpedo sank one of the latter’s warships near the inter-Korean maritime border on March 26, killing 46 sailors. It said it will work with the international community to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.
“Turkey stands in solidarity with our friend and ally the South Korean government and its people in this tragic incident ... and will continue to act in close cooperation with South Korea and the other responsible members of the international community,” Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
With the six-party talks on Pyongyang’s denuclearization at a standstill, the Turkish government said refraining from moves that increase tension on the Korean Peninsula “was of utmost importance.”
“It is obvious that this development will result in further increasing the isolation of North Korea,” the statement said.
South Korea and Turkey have maintained diplomatic ties since 1957, with bilateral trade topping $4 billion in 2008, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The two countries opened negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) last month.