N. Korean attack 'challenge to international peace' - White House
20/05/201008:55
WASHINGTON, May 20 (RIA Novosti) - The White House said on Thursday evidence indicates North Korea was responsible for the sinking of the South Korean Cheonan Navy ship and described the act as a challenge to international peace and security.
The 1,200-ton Cheonan corvette sunk on the night of March 26 near the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea after a sudden explosion that killed 46 sailors.
A team of international investigators confirmed on Thursday suspicions that the ship was destroyed by a torpedo launched from a North Korean submarine.
"This act of aggression is one more instance of North Korea's unacceptable behavior and defiance of international law. This attack constitutes a challenge to international peace and security and is a violation of the Armistice Agreement," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
Gibbs said U.S. President Barack Obama has given his full support to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and would help the country defend itself "against further acts of aggression."
He said such behavior only served to deepen North Korea's isolation.
"North Korea must understand that belligerence towards its neighbors and defiance of the international community are signs of weakness, not strength," Gibbs said.
"It reinforces the resolve of its neighbors to intensify their cooperation to safeguard peace and stability in the region against all provocations."
The conclusions of the investigation may lead to further deterioration of the already sour relations between the two Koreas and jeopardize international efforts to stop Pyongyang's controversial nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programs.
North Korea has already called the results of the investigation "a fabrication," and warned Seoul of stern response if the South retaliated with new sanctions against Pyongyang over the alleged attack on its warship.
The two countries remain technically at war as their 1950-1953 conflict ended only in an armistice.
Naval clashes between the two states over the disputed sea border took place in 1999, 2002 and last year.
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