Defense ministry voices confidence in probe results of deadly Cheonan ship sinking
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday that it trusts the results of a civilian-military joint probe blaming North Korea for the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship, after a presidential committee decided to revisit the case following a petition.
On March 26, 2010, the warship Cheonan went down near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, killing 46 sailors.
After an extensive probe by the joint investigation group involving international experts, South Korea concluded that the sinking was caused by a torpedo attack by a North Korean submarine.
But the Presidential Truth Commission on Deaths in the Military decided late last year to launch a fresh probe into the case, after Shin Sang-cheol, a former member of the probe team, filed such a petition. He has long claimed that the ship ran aground but the government manipulated the incident.
"The defense ministry trusts the results of the probe by the investigation team, and we've maintained a consistent stance on the issue," the ministry said in a statement.
A commission official said, "His petition met the conditions required for a probe. We've made the decision in December last year after carrying out an initial survey."
As bereaved family members lodged strong complaints over the decision, the commission plans to hold an emergency meeting with them on Friday to discuss the issue, he added.

This file photo taken on April 10, 2015, shows then U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (2nd from R) and South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo (2nd from L) visiting the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to pay tribute to 46 South Korean sailors killed in the sinking of the country's warship Cheonan in 2010 by North Korea. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
N. Korea's Kim holds talks with Russian defense minister on strengthening military cooperation: state media
-
Late wife of Australian veteran of Korean War laid to rest in Busan
-
Remains of another Korean War soldier identified
-
(LEAD) Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Late wife of Australian veteran of Korean War laid to rest in Busan
-
24 teachers caught illegally selling exam questions to private educators
-
Remains of another Korean War soldier identified
-
(LEAD) Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
Fighter jet crashes in Seosan; pilot makes emergency escape
-
(LEAD) Family of 5 found dead in 3 separate locations
-
Allies vow stern measures against Russia-N. Korea arms deal
-
(LEAD) Opposition party leader ends 24-day hunger strike for treatment
-
(4th LD) Xi says he will seriously consider visit to South Korea: official
-
(2nd LD) U.S. finalizes national security 'guardrails' for CHIPS funding