North Korea on Tuesday rejected international findings that it sank a South Korean ship, warning at the United Nations the dispute could lead to war.
"A war may break out any time," Ambassador Sin Son Ho said, accusing South Korea of "fabricating" the results of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan.
The loss of the ship and 46 sailors in March raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North and South Korea presented their cases to the United Nations on Monday, and South Korea then urged the Security Council to take "timely and appropriate measures."
North Korea's envoy responded harshly Tuesday.
"If the Security Council releases any documents against us, condemning or pressuring us ... then myself as diplomat, I can do nothing. ... The follow-up measures will be carried out by our military forces," he said.
U.N. Security Council President Claude Heller said Monday that the U.N. body is "gravely concerned" about the latest tensions.
Heller said the council is concerned over the potential "impact on peace and stability on the Korean peninsula" as a result of the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan in disputed waters.
"We presented and explained to [the council] the evidence that the Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo, which was made in North Korea, and launching was also done by a North Korean ... submarine," said Yoon Duk-yong, a science and physics professor serving as a civilian expert on the South Korean panel.
Yoon said the findings were based on evidence recovered after the sinking, including an intact piece of the torpedo with propellers, steering plates and a motor.
"We hope that on the basis of these findings," he said, "the Security Council will take timely and appropriate measures against the provocation of North Korea against the naval ship of the Republic of Korea."
But North Korea's ambassador disputed the international findings, comparing them to "some kind of fiction in Aesop's Fables."
"The 'investigation result' is a complete fabrication from A to Z," he said.
The council is calling on both sides "to refrain from any act that could escalate tensions in the region," Heller said.
The two-hour meeting was held behind closed doors Monday afternoon and was also attended by U.S., Australian, British, Swedish and Canadian scientific experts who had participated in the investigation.
The Japanese ambassador to the United Nations made brief remarks following the two nations' presentations, saying "there is no other explanation" than that the South Korean ship was sunk by a North Korean torpedo.
"I think the council should react in a decisive manner, but at the same time try to avoid any act which may provoke" a retaliatory attack, Ambassador Yukio Takasu said.
North Korea repeatedly has denied any responsibility in the sinking.
Heller said a decision has not yet been made on how to respond to the incident.
"The Security Council will continue its consultations," he said.
South Korea holds civil defense drill amid tension
Air raid sirens blared as hundreds of thousands of South Koreans donned gas masks Tuesday in a nationwide civil defense drill, as Seoul's defense chief said North Korea has bolstered its military readiness amid tensions over the sinking of a South Korean warship.Although both Koreas have exchanged harsh rhetoric and increased their military vigilance in recent weeks, Seoul officials have said it is unlikely renewed tension would lead to all-out war.
The defense drill was the first on a nationwide scale for possible chemical, biological and radiological attacks since 1989, the National Emergency Management Agency said. It said the exercise was resumed in the aftermath of the ship sinking in March that South Korea blamed on North Korea.
"Now, North Korea is maintaining a considerably strengthened vigilance posture and as you know it's been issuing many threats and statements through various channels," South Korean Defense Minster Kim Tae-young told the National Assembly on Tuesday. "But there have been no serious military activities at the border and in rear areas."
The U.N. Security Council said late Monday it is "gravely concerned" the ship sinking could endanger peace on the peninsula and urged both Koreas to refrain from any provocative acts. A statement was issued after the council listened to separate presentations from each side, with Seoul seeking U.N. action to punish Pyongyang.
South Korea has taken punitive measures against North Korea, including trade restrictions, after the warship Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo attack in March, killing 46 sailors. North Korea flatly denies its involvement and has warned any retaliation would trigger war, with its military threatening Saturday to turn Seoul into "a sea of flame."
Kim said South Korea was closely watching North Korea's military because it may engage in provocative acts anytime.
At the U.N. Security Council meeting, South Korea made a 23-minute presentation and showed a video on the findings it reached with U.S., British and other foreign investigators.
North Korea repeated its stance that it had nothing to do with the sinking.
"We are just a victim," North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Pak Tok Hun told reporters before heading into his closed-door meeting with the council. "So we'd like to make our position clear here."
U.N. diplomats familiar with contacts on possible council action said China, the North's closest ally, is opposed to a third round of sanctions against Pyongyang and indicated the more likely result will be a presidential statement. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the contacts have been private.
A presidential statement is considered a weaker form of rebuke than the imposition of sanctions.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak renewed calls Tuesday for international action to get North Korea to acknowledge and apologize for the ship sinking, according to the presidential office.
The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The sinking occurred near the tense Korean sea border — a scene of three bloody maritime battles.
"A war may break out any time," Ambassador Sin Son Ho said, accusing South Korea of "fabricating" the results of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan.
The loss of the ship and 46 sailors in March raised tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North and South Korea presented their cases to the United Nations on Monday, and South Korea then urged the Security Council to take "timely and appropriate measures."
North Korea's envoy responded harshly Tuesday.
"If the Security Council releases any documents against us, condemning or pressuring us ... then myself as diplomat, I can do nothing. ... The follow-up measures will be carried out by our military forces," he said.
U.N. Security Council President Claude Heller said Monday that the U.N. body is "gravely concerned" about the latest tensions.
Heller said the council is concerned over the potential "impact on peace and stability on the Korean peninsula" as a result of the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan in disputed waters.
"We presented and explained to [the council] the evidence that the Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo, which was made in North Korea, and launching was also done by a North Korean ... submarine," said Yoon Duk-yong, a science and physics professor serving as a civilian expert on the South Korean panel.
Yoon said the findings were based on evidence recovered after the sinking, including an intact piece of the torpedo with propellers, steering plates and a motor.
"We hope that on the basis of these findings," he said, "the Security Council will take timely and appropriate measures against the provocation of North Korea against the naval ship of the Republic of Korea."
But North Korea's ambassador disputed the international findings, comparing them to "some kind of fiction in Aesop's Fables."
"The 'investigation result' is a complete fabrication from A to Z," he said.
The council is calling on both sides "to refrain from any act that could escalate tensions in the region," Heller said.
The two-hour meeting was held behind closed doors Monday afternoon and was also attended by U.S., Australian, British, Swedish and Canadian scientific experts who had participated in the investigation.
The Japanese ambassador to the United Nations made brief remarks following the two nations' presentations, saying "there is no other explanation" than that the South Korean ship was sunk by a North Korean torpedo.
"I think the council should react in a decisive manner, but at the same time try to avoid any act which may provoke" a retaliatory attack, Ambassador Yukio Takasu said.
North Korea repeatedly has denied any responsibility in the sinking.
Heller said a decision has not yet been made on how to respond to the incident.
"The Security Council will continue its consultations," he said.
South Korea holds civil defense drill amid tension
Air raid sirens blared as hundreds of thousands of South Koreans donned gas masks Tuesday in a nationwide civil defense drill, as Seoul's defense chief said North Korea has bolstered its military readiness amid tensions over the sinking of a South Korean warship.Although both Koreas have exchanged harsh rhetoric and increased their military vigilance in recent weeks, Seoul officials have said it is unlikely renewed tension would lead to all-out war.
The defense drill was the first on a nationwide scale for possible chemical, biological and radiological attacks since 1989, the National Emergency Management Agency said. It said the exercise was resumed in the aftermath of the ship sinking in March that South Korea blamed on North Korea.
"Now, North Korea is maintaining a considerably strengthened vigilance posture and as you know it's been issuing many threats and statements through various channels," South Korean Defense Minster Kim Tae-young told the National Assembly on Tuesday. "But there have been no serious military activities at the border and in rear areas."
The U.N. Security Council said late Monday it is "gravely concerned" the ship sinking could endanger peace on the peninsula and urged both Koreas to refrain from any provocative acts. A statement was issued after the council listened to separate presentations from each side, with Seoul seeking U.N. action to punish Pyongyang.
South Korea has taken punitive measures against North Korea, including trade restrictions, after the warship Cheonan was sunk by a torpedo attack in March, killing 46 sailors. North Korea flatly denies its involvement and has warned any retaliation would trigger war, with its military threatening Saturday to turn Seoul into "a sea of flame."
Kim said South Korea was closely watching North Korea's military because it may engage in provocative acts anytime.
At the U.N. Security Council meeting, South Korea made a 23-minute presentation and showed a video on the findings it reached with U.S., British and other foreign investigators.
North Korea repeated its stance that it had nothing to do with the sinking.
"We are just a victim," North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Pak Tok Hun told reporters before heading into his closed-door meeting with the council. "So we'd like to make our position clear here."
U.N. diplomats familiar with contacts on possible council action said China, the North's closest ally, is opposed to a third round of sanctions against Pyongyang and indicated the more likely result will be a presidential statement. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the contacts have been private.
A presidential statement is considered a weaker form of rebuke than the imposition of sanctions.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak renewed calls Tuesday for international action to get North Korea to acknowledge and apologize for the ship sinking, according to the presidential office.
The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The sinking occurred near the tense Korean sea border — a scene of three bloody maritime battles.
