UN Condemns S. Korean Ship's Sinking

The United Nations yesterday condemned the sinking of a South Korean warship Cheonan in the Yellow Sea in March, killing 36, but stopped short of blaming the attack on the North.

North Korea's ambassador to the UN swiftly welcomed the statement and said his country would continue to take part in six-party nuclear talks, which have been stalled since Pyongyang left the negotiating table in April 2009.

The declaration posed the importance of preventing further attacks against South Korea and praised Seoul for exercising restraint in the months following the attack. Despite pressure from the U.S. and South Korea, there was no direct blame placed on North Korea for the March 26 attack.

A multinational inquiry found a North Korean torpedo sunk the ship, but North Korea continues to deny any involvement.

And the UN text stated that in view of the findings of the investigation "which concluded that the DPRK was responsible for sinking the Cheonan, the Security Council expresses its deep concern." The Security Council urged that "appropriate and peaceful measures be taken against those responsible for the incident aimed at the peaceful settlement of the issue."

It also called for full adherence to the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, which ended hostilities in the Korean War.