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Dozens Missing From Sunken South Korean Navy Vessel
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Still, South Korean officials are downplaying the notion the ship was attacked by North Korea – in part, because the incident occurred southwest of Baekryoung island, deep in South Korean waters.
Carl Baker, a Korean security specialist and director of Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu, agrees a North Korean role seems unlikely.
“You know, it looks to me like it was a naval accident, an unfortunate naval accident, that happened. I mean, it just seems like it was an explosion on the ship. And I’m just kind of skeptical about it being a North Korean attack or something,” said Baker.
Baker says the timing of such an attack would be strange, given recent reports of a possible upcoming visit to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the possible resumption of talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs.
“If it is… a North Korean attack, it would signal something kind of strange that isn’t consistent with all the other news going on at this point,” said Baker.
North Korea is also seeking to relieve the pressure international sanctions has put on its sputtering economy – in part, by asking South Korea for a renewal of economic joint projects. Some analysts believe a military attack would contradict those efforts.
