Torpedo ‘likely cause of warship sinking’

AN explosion from a torpedo likely sank a South Korean warship that went down near the tense border with North Korea last month, the South’s defence minister said yesterday amid growing speculation Pyongyang may be behind the blast.

Defence Minister Kim Tae-young said the most likely cause of the disaster was a torpedo exploding near the ship, with the force of the underwater blast ripping the vessel apart. Investigators who examined salvaged wreckage separately announced yesterday that a close-range, external explosion likely sank it.

“Basically, I think the bubble jet effect caused by a heavy torpedo is the most likely” cause for the blast, Kim told reporters.