Our colleague Makiko kindly translated the HaniTV video's narration and subtitles on Cheonan sinking into Japanese. Please see below. Please see this LINK for the English and Korean versions of the video. Scripts provided at courtesy of HaniTV.
先日の記事で紹介した天安艦沈没事件についてのＨａｎｉＴＶのビデオのナレーション、字幕情報を Makiko さんが日本語に訳してくれました。以下、英語、韓国語も混じっていますがどうぞ。英語版、韓国語版のビデオはこちらをご覧ください。（英語版、韓国語版の台本、字幕はＨａｎｉＴＶに提供していただきました。）
HaniTV is the video production division of Hankyoreh, South Korea’s leading independent daily. From the moment new broke of the ship’s sinking, Hankyoreh and HaniTV have worked to uncover the facts behind what happened. Our findings uncovered siginificant flaws in the Civilian-Military Joint Investigation Group’s report. This documentary is a summary of our findings to date.
Haniテレビは、韓国の主要な独立系日刊紙Hankyorehのビデオ制作部門です。天安艦沈没のニュースが突然伝わったときより、Hankyoreh とHaniテレビはこの事件の裏にある事実を明らかにしようとしてきました。我々の調査の結果で、軍民合同調査グループの報告に重大な欠陥があることが明るみにでました。このドキュメンタリー・ビデオは今日までに分かっている我々の調査結果の概要です。
On March 26th, the South Korean Naby’s patrol combat corvette (PPC) Cheonan sank and with it took the lives of 46 of the 104 sailors abroad. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and those who lost loved ones that day.
3月26日、韓国海軍の哨戒艇天安艦が沈没し、それとともに乗船していた104名の乗組員のうちの46名の命が奪われました。遺族および当日愛する人たちを失った人たちに心より哀悼の意を捧げます。
Beneath the Surface: the Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan
水面下で：天安艦沈没の調査
-MBC: South Korean Navy warship Cheonan has sunk, 46 crewmembers missing
-MBC: The most terrible disaster in 30 years
MBC：韓国海軍戦艦天安が沈没して、46名の乗組員が消息不明
MBC: ここ30年でもっともひどい災害
Choi Moon-soon, National Assembly Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“When I heard the news for the first time, I thought it was just an accident. I
could not have imagined the upcoming security crisis and fear of war.”
民主党国会議員、Choi Moon-soon:
「私が初めてそのニュースを聞いたとき、単なる事故だと思いました。その後の安全保障上の危機と戦争の懸念を想像できたはずもありません。」
Oh Sung-tak, Surviving Cheonan Crewmember
“All of a sudden, I heard a huge boom and felt my body flying through the air. Then the power shut down.”
天安号の生存乗組員、Oh Sung-takの証言
「まったく突然に、ドカーンという大きな音が聞こえ、自分の体が空中に投げ出されているのを感じました。その後停電が起きました。」
Lee Chae-kwon, Cheonan crewmember
“I can say with certainty that there were no unusual signs before the incident.”
天安号の乗組員、Lee Chae-kwon
「私は事故前には何の異常もなかったと確信を持って言えます。」
SBS News: Military authorities continuously changed their story.
SBSニュース：「軍当局は絶えず発表を変えた」
Lee Jong-in, CEO, Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation Service
“At first, it was all a mystery. The cause of the sinking could only be found after
salvaging the vessel.”
Alpha 海底技術法人サービスのCEOであるLee Jong-inさん
「最初はまったくの謎でした。沈没の原因は、船を引き上げたあとに初めて発見できるかもしれません。」
0. 2010년 3월 26일 밤. 천안함의 승조원들은 닥쳐올 비극을 모른 채 평온한 일상을 보내고 있었습니다. 우리는 이날 밤 그들이 죽음을 맞은 이유에 대해 명확히 알고 있지 못합니다.
On the night of March 26th, crewmembers of the South Korean naval warship Cheonan wrapped up an ordinary day, unaware of the tragedy on the horizon. Those were the last known moments of the ship, and the reason for the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
3月26日の夜、哨戒艇天安艦の乗組員は、水平線の向こうにある悲劇に気づかずに、いつも通りの一日を締めくくろうとしていた。これらの映像が、この船の最後の瞬間と知られるものである、しかし未だにその沈没の理由は分かっていない。
1. 그들이 탄 배는 남북이 대치한 백령도 인근에서 침몰했습니다. 함수와 함미가 인양된 뒤 본격적인 조사에 착수한 민군합동조사단은, 5월 20일 천안함을 침몰시킨 범인으로 북한을 지목했습니다. 사건이 일어난지 두달도 안된 시점이었고, 6.2 지자체 선거운동 개시일이었습니다.
The Cheonan, a patrol combat corvette, sank southwest of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The South Korean government put together a Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group that included representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Australia and launched a full-scale investigation after salvaging the sunken vessel. On May 20th, the investigation group released their findings and pointed to North Korea as the culprit. The day fell just 2 months after the accident, and also coincided with the official launch of the June 2 municipal elections campaign season.
哨戒艇天安艦は、ベンニョン島の南西で沈んだ。韓国政府は米国・カナダ・英国・スウェーデンの代表を含む軍民合同調査グループを設置し、沈没した船の引き上げ語に本格調査を開始した。 5月20日、調査グループは結果を発表し、北朝鮮の犯行であると指摘。その日は沈没事故からちょうど2ヶ月、さらに6月2日にある地方選の遊説開始日に偶然一致していた。
Yoon Duk-yong, Co-Chairman, Joint Investigation Group
“The patrol combat corvette Cheonan was sliced and sank due to an underwater explosion, which was followed by a shock wave and bubble jet effect. The weapon was confirmed to be a highly explosive 250 kg torpedo manufactured by North Korea.”
合同調査グループ共同代表Yoon Duk-yong,
「哨戒戦艦天安号は海面下での爆発が原因で二つに割れて沈没したが、その爆発のあとショック波とバブルジェット効果が続いて起こった。この兵器は北朝鮮が製造した、爆発力の高い250gの魚雷であると確認された。」
2. 합조단의 결론은 이렇습니다. 백령도 서쪽에서 경비 중이던 천안함은, 9시 22분경 한미 해군 레이더망을 피해 잠입한 북한 잠수정에 의해 기습당합니다. 이 연어급 잠수정이 쏜 중어뢰가 천안함 가스터빈실 아래에서 폭발해 버블효과 물기둥을 일으켰고, 천안함의 허리를 쪼갰다는 것입니다. 그러나 합조단의 결론은 곧바로 숱한 논란을 일으켰습니다.
The investigation team put together its narrative of what happened that night. The Cheonan, while guarding the west coast of the Baengnyeong [백령] Island, was ambushed by a North Korean Yono-class submarine that had penetrated deep into the West Sea, where a joint U.S.-South Korean military drill had taken place earlier that evening. The submarine launched a heavy torpedo, which exploded just below the midsection of the ship, splitting the warship in two. Their conclusion, however, has remained the subject of intense controversy.
調査チームはその夜起こったことの説明をまとめあげた。天安艦は、ベンニョン島の西海岸を警備中に、西海深くに侵入してきていた北朝鮮のヨンオ級潜水艦に待ち伏せされた。その潜水艦が大型の魚雷を発射し、それが天安艦の中央部真下で爆発、艦を真っ二つにした。しかしながら彼らの結論は、激しい論争の的となっている。
(The following are some of the controversies that have arisen.
以下はこれまでに物議となっている点の幾つかである。)
【Screw Controversy 】
The right screw of the Cheonan was bent into an “S” shape. Experts said unless the ship ran aground, there is no plausible explanation. The Joint Investigation
Group has never given a full explanation.
スクリューに関する論争
天安号の右側のスクリューが「Ｓ」字形にひん曲がっている。
専門家は、この船が座礁しなかったのであれば説明がつかないと語っている。
合同調査グループはこれが魚雷の爆発の結果であると繰り返し述べたが、完全な説明はこれまで行っていない。
【Adhesive Substance Dispute】
The Joint Investigation Group said residue found on the ship’s hull and on the torpedo was produced at the time of the explosion. Scientists who analyzed the data said the residue is unrelated to the explosion.
付着物質に関する議論
合同調査グループは、船体と魚雷に残っているのが見つかった付着物質は爆発の時刻に生じたものだと述べている。付着物質のデータを分析した科学者たちは、それが爆発とは無関係であると述べている。
Lee Seung-hun, Professor of Physics, University of Virginia
ヴァージニア大学物理学 Lee Seung-hun教授
“The ratio should be 0.23, very different from 0.9 .”
「（*付物質のある成分の）割合は0.23であるはずで、これは(*合同調査グループのデータの) 0.9とは大きく異なる。」
【Incorrect Torpedo Blueprint Released】
The Joint Investigation Group presented a full-scale blueprint of the
‘No. 1 torpedo’allegedly launched by North Korea.
The blueprint later turned out to be incorrect.
South Korea’s Ministry of Defense explains this away as a “simple mistake.”
魚雷上不確かな青文字
合同調査グループは、北朝鮮により発射されたとされる「一番魚雷」という青文字を全面公開した。その青文字は後に正しいものでないとわかった。韓国の国防省はこれを単なる間違いだと説明した。
【Frequent Reversal of Findings】
-“incident time is 21:45” -“21:30”-“21:22”
事件発生時刻は21時45分、 21時30分、21時22分
The South Korean Ministry of Defense frequently changed the official time of the incident and related footage, leading to a loss in the South Korean public’s trust. Two weeks after the report’s release, the South Korean people deal the President’s Grand National Party a stunning loss in the June 2 municipal elections.
調査結果の頻繁な転変
国防省は事件と船内映像の時刻についての公式発表を頻繁に変え、それにより市民の信頼を失った。
【Water Column’s Existence Disputed】
The South Korean military cited testimony of Marine guards stationed on Baengnyeong Island who said they “observed a white light at the time of the incident” as evidence of a water column. It is later revealed that the marine guards consistently testified in military investigations that they judged the flash and sound to be lightning and thunder.
争論となっている水柱の存在
韓国軍はベンニョン島に駐在している沿岸警備兵が「事件の時刻に白い閃光を見た」と述べたのを、水柱の証拠として引用した。その後、この沿岸警備兵は軍の調査において首尾一貫して、その閃光と音を稲妻と雷だと判断したと証言していたことが明らかになった。
【Water Column’s Size Disputed】
The South Korean military also cited a statement by a port-side lookout aboard the Cheonan who said he felt droplets of water splash on his face as evidence of a water column. The calculated size of the water column would have to be over 100 meters high, producing far more than water droplets.
争論となっている水柱の規模
軍はまた、船の左舷の監視員が顔に水しぶきが数滴かかったと述べたのを証言として引用した。（軍が主張する）水柱の規模は高さ100ｍ以上にもなるだろうから、数滴の水しぶきより遙かに多量の水となる。
13. 취재진이 단독 입수한 러시아 조사단 보고서 요약본에 따르면, 러시아 조사단은 사건 원인과 시간에 대해 한국 측 조사 결과가 들어맞지 않는다고 결론지었습니다. 러시아 조사단은 천안함이 기뢰에 의해 침몰됐을 가능성을 제기했고, 그 이전에 수심이 낮은 해역에서 1차적 사고를 당했다고 봤습니다. 즉, 사고가 두 번 있었다는 것입니다.
Hankyoreh journalists obtained an exclusive copy of the Korean abstract of the report entitled “Data from the Russian Naval Expert Group’s Investigation into the Cause of Sinking of the South Korean Naval Vessel Cheonan.” The report was a marked contrast to the Joint Investigation Group’s findings. The Russian team concluded that it was not a torpedo, but a floating mine in the water that was responsible for the ship’s sinking, and that before the explosion, the ship had run aground in shallow water. In other words, they believed that two accidents occurred before the sinking.
Hankyorehの記者が「ロシア海軍専門家グループによる韓国海軍天安艦沈没原因の調査データ」と題した報告書の韓国語版抜粋コピーを独占入手した。この報告書は合同調査グループの報告とは対照的であった。ロシアのチームは同艦沈没の原因は魚雷ではなく、水中に浮いた機雷であり、爆発以前に同艦は浅瀬で座礁していたと結論づけていた。言い換えれば、ロシアチームは沈没前に二つの事故が起こったと確信したのだ。
-1: Russian experts’ different findings
ロシア専門家の異なる見解
Lee Yong-in, Hankyoreh Newspaper Journalist, exclusively obtained Russian report
“The South Korean government surveyed the U.N. Security Council members about
the Cheonan incident. At the time, Russia mentioned the possibility of an attack by North Korea. That prompted South Korea to invite Russian experts to conduct an independent investigation, in hopes that both of the investigating teams would reach the same conclusion.”
Hankyoreh紙の記者であるLee Yong-inがロシアの報告書を単独入手した。
「韓国政府は天安事件について国連安保理メンバー国がどう考えるかを模様見しました。そのときロシアが北朝鮮による攻撃の可能性に言及しました。それで韓国はただちにロシアの専門家たちに別個の調査を行うよう求めましたが、これは両方の調査チームが同じ結果に到達することを期待していたからでした。」
14. 이와 관련해 도널드 그레그 전 주한미국대사는 뉴욕타임스 인터넷판과 인터내셔널해럴드트리뷴에 흥미로운 글을 기고했습니다. 러시아 고위 인사에게 왜 자국 조사 결과를 공개하지 않느냐고 물어봤더니, 그 조사 결과가 이명박 정권에 큰 정치적 타격을 주고 오바마 행정부를 당황하게 할 수 있기 때문이라고 대답했다는 것입니다.
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg referred to the Russian Naval Experts’ theory in an Op-ed in the International Herald Tribune on August 31st.
Gregg said, “When I asked a well-placed Russian friend why the report has not been made public, he replied, ‘Because it would do much political damage to President Lee Myung-bak and would embarrass President Obama.’”
元駐韓米国大使ドナルド・グレッグは、ロシア海軍の専門家の説明を、2010年8月31日付けのヘラルド・トリビューンの論説記事に書いている。「なぜロシアの調査報告書が公開されていないのか、その理由を良い地位にある私の友人のロシア人に尋ねたところ、彼は『公開すれば李明博大統領にとって多大な政治的ダメージとなるし、またオバマ大統領が困るだろうから』と応えた。」
“I then discovered that the “well placed Russian friend” Mr. Gregg referred to is a high-level official. He or she has the authority to talk about the report, therefore, Mr. Gregg’s column
is in fact quite reliable.“
「私はその後、グレッグ氏が言及した『良い地位にあるロシアの友人』が政府高官であるとわかりました。この人物はロシアの報告書について話す権限があります。ですから、グレッグ氏のコラム記事は実際とても信頼できるのです。」
15. 러시아 조사단은 스크루에 엉켜 있는 어선 그물의 존재를 환기시키고 폭발이 일어나기 전에 천안함이 해저면에 닿아 스크루가 훼손됐다고 설명합니다. 즉 천안함이 직면한 1차적 사고는 좌초 혹은 그와 유사한 상황이라는 것입니다. 30년 간 해난 구조 작업을 해 온 이종인씨는 천안함 사건의 원인이 좌초라고 주장해 왔습니다.
The Russian team’s report states the vessel’s propeller became entangled in a fishing net as it was sailing through shallow waters off the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The ship likely ran aground, and it was this occurrence that was the first cause of the sinking.
Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation specializing in ship wreckage recovery, with over 30 years of salvaging experience, has strongly stressed in his opinions that the ship wreckage points to the fact that the ship had run aground, not that an explosion had occurred.
ロシアチームの報告書には、天安艦はベンニョン島の沖の浅い水域に向かっている折りにそのプロペラが漁業網にからまったと書いてある。同艦は座礁したようである、そして沈没の第一原因はこの出来事であった。船舶の遭難を専門とし、30年以上沈没船の引き上げ作業の経験がある、アルファ海底技術法人のCEOであるLee Jong-inは自分の見解を述べながら、天安艦の残骸は同船が座礁した事実を指すと強調した。
Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Cooperation
“The condition of the ship wreckage showed a simple separation between the bow and stern of the ship. When the ship hit the rock, the area struck sustained damage corresponding to the ship’s 1200-ton weight.”
アフルァ海底技術法人CEO、Lee Jong-inさん
「船の残骸の状態からは、ただ単に船首と船尾の間で二つに割れたことがわかりました。あの船が岩に当たったときに、その付近が1200トンある船の重さに釣り合う一連のダメージを受けたのです。」
(The Joint Investigation Group’s designated site of the explosion: 37-55-45N, 124-36-02E
合同調査グループが爆発現場とした地点：北緯37°55′45″、東経124°36′02″
-graphic: Explosion point of the JIG 37-55-45N, 124-36-02E
グラフィック：合同調査グループが爆発地点とした点： 北緯37°55′45″東経124°36′02″)
-2: The Coastguards’ statements
警備兵の供述
16. 이 그래픽은 사고 당일 밤 아홉시부터 사고 순간까지 천안함의 항적에 대해, 군과 전문가의 설명을 바탕으로 재구성해본 것입니다. 군의 공식 폭발원점은 수심이 45미터가 넘어 좌초의 여지가 없습니다.
그러나 천안함의 좌초 가능성과 관련해 주목할만한 진술이 있습니다. 바로 백령도 해안 박아무개 초병의 자필 진술서입니다. 그는 당시 섬광을 목격했다는 김 아무개 초병과 함께 초소에 있었습니다.
This computer graphic tracks the ship’s path from 9:00p.m. on March 26th to the moment of the incident. The military stated that the water level at the site of the sinking was more than 45 meters, which meant the ship had no chance of running aground. However, others also gave significant statements about these claims.
This is the handwritten statement of a marine stationed on the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. He is one of the two guards who spotted the white flash when the incident happened.
このコンピュータグラフィックは、3月26日の午後9時から事故の瞬間までの、天安艦の航行経路を示す。軍は沈没現場の水深は45メートル以上であると述べた、そうであれば、天安艦が座礁した可能性は全くないということになる。 しかしこれらの主張に関して重要な話しをする者もいた。これはベンニョン島海岸に駐在する警備兵の手書きの供述書である。彼は沈没事故が起こったときに、白い光を認めた二人の警備兵のひとりだ。
Lee Tae-ho, People’s Solidarity for a Participatory Democracy
The Marine guards said they saw not a water column, but a white flash. After this fact
revealed, controversy was reignited.”
NPOであるPSPDのLee Tae-hoさん
「警備兵は、水柱でなく白い閃光を見たと語りました。この事実が明らかになったのち、論争は再び燃え上がったのです。」
(-graphic: Cape Doomoojin, Coast post, Expolosion point of the JIG
Doomoonjin 岬、沿岸監視所、合同調査グループが爆発現場とする地点)
17. 그 역시 섬광을 목격했다고 진술했습니다. 그런데 그는 섬광이 두 개 였으며 오른쪽 섬광은 두무진 돌출부에 의해 가려져 잘 보이지 않았다고 합니다.
그가 섬광을 봤다고 지목한 지점은 두무진 끝자락이고 군의 공식 폭발 원점과는 상당한 거리가 있습니다. 게다가 수심이 얕아 좌초 가능성이 있는 지역입니다. 군의 공식 폭발 원점은 탁트인 바다라 불빛이 가려질 여지가 없습니다.
The guard talked about the white flash. He said there were two flashes, and the one on the right was partially blocked by Doomujin spur, a large projection of land located unmistakably northwest from the guard’s watch station. The Joint Investigation Group, however, designated the location of the sinking as southwest, an entirely different direction. Shallow waters are located next to Doomujin spur, maintaining the possibility that the ship ran aground. Guards at the watch station have an unobstructed view, leaving little chance that the guard misidentified the area.
その警備兵はまた、白い閃光についても語った。二つの閃光があがり、右側の閃光は、監視所から間違いなく北西に位置している大きな岬であるDumujin Spurにより部分的に遮られたと述べた。 しかしながら（*合同調査結果の）沈没地点は南西で、それとはまったく異なる方向である。Dumujin Spurからは浅瀬が始まり、そこでは船が座礁する可能性があった。監視所の警備隊員には（*西側と南側において）視界を遮るものがなく、その付近を誤認する可能性はほとんどない。
Noh Jong-myeon, National Union of Media Workers
“The coastguard saw something to the north, but the Joint Investigation Group purposely reported it as the south. This was a fabrication.”
全国メディア労働者組合、Noh Jong-myeonさん
「沿岸警備兵は北に何かを見た、しかし合同調査グループはわざとそれを南と報告しました。これはねつ造です。」
(Marine outpost, area designated where the “patrol combat corvette ran aground”
警備兵の監視所、「哨戒艇が座礁した」とされる場所)
18. 그의 다음 진술은 더 놀랍습니다. 그는 밤 9시30분경, 초소 기준 180도 방향으로 3km 떨어진 지점에서, 해군함이 좌초된 초계함을 구조했다는 것입니다. 이 지점은 수심이 얕은 해안 인접 지역입니다. 게다가 좌초라고 쓰고 있습니다.
The guard’s next statement was even more surprising. At 9:30 that night, 180 degrees and 3 kilometers due south of the post, he spotted a navy vessel rescuing the stranded patrol combat corvette, the Cheonan. He said that the site was close to the coast, and in shallow waters. The guard referred to the ship as “having run aground.”
警備兵の次ぎの発言はさらに驚きであった。当日のよる9時半に彼は監視所から180度3kmほど南で、一隻の海軍艦船が座礁した哨戒艇天安号を救助しているのを認めた。彼はその場所は海岸付近で浅瀬であったと述べた。その警備兵は、天安号が座礁していたと述べた。
Noh Jong-myeon, National Union of Media Workers
“He was looking at a completely different place. He could not have been mistaken, because he continuously observed from his post, and there was nothing to block his vision. He has also confirmed this statement to date.”
全国メディア労働者組合、Noh Jong-myeonさん
「警備兵はまったく異なる場所を見ていました。彼は間違ったはずはありません、なぜなら自分の持ち場から絶えず監視していたからで、彼が監視する彼方には視界を遮るものは何もありませんでした。彼はまた自分の証言は今も変わっていないと言っています。」
19. 이에 최문순 의원과 기자들은 알파 잠수 이종인 대표의 도움을 받아 이 지점에 대한 해안 조사를 벌였습니다. 그 결과, 해도 상에는 존재하지 않는 여러 암초와 사구의 존재를 확인할 수 있었습니다.
National Assembly Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon of the main opposition Democratic Party investigated the site with several reporters, including HaniTV. At the investigation site, they discovered reefs and sand dunes under the sea that were not marked on the map.
Choi Moon-soon国会議員が、Haniテレビからの者を含む数名のリポーターと共に現場を調べた。そこで彼らは、海図に載っていない海底の暗礁と砂丘を発見した。
Choi Moon-soon, Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“There are uncharted rocks near the coast of Baengnyeong Island. There are also small rocks marked on the sea map.”
民主党議員、Choi Moon-soon,
「ベンニョン島の沿岸には海図に載っていない岩があります。さらに海図に記された小さな岩もあります。」
-3: CCTV and incident time
CCTV撮影と事故の時刻
20. 러시아 조사단은 또 사고 시간과 관련해 뜻밖의 사실을 알려줍니다. 천안함 내부에 설치돼 있던 CCTV의 마지막 촬영 시간이 군 발표와 달리 9시17분이라는 겁니다.
군은 CCTV가 전류가 끊기기 1분 전까지 녹화되도록 설정되었으며, 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분이므로 군의 공식 사고 시각 9시22분과 일치한다고 발표했습니다. 때문에 CCTV 시간은 군의 주장을 뒷받침해주는 중요한 근거였습니다.
The report by the team of Russian experts mentioned another important factor previously unknown by the public. The last time recorded by the ship’s CCTV was 9:17 p.m. Military authorities previously reported the final time code as 9:21 p.m. CCTV recording systems record images one minute after they occur, meaning the time code would register the incident as 9:22p.m. The CCTV’s time code served as important evidence in relation to the time of the incident.
ロシア専門家チームによる報告は、これまで一般には知らされていなかった別の重要な事実に触れていた。 天安号のCCTVに記録された最後の時刻は、午後９時17分だった。軍当局はこれ以前、沈没前の最終タイム・コードを午後9時21分と報告していた。 CCTVの記録システムは、実際に起こったことを1分後に映像で記録するので、すなわち、タイム・コードはその事故を午後9時22分と記録するはずだ。 CCTVに記録された時刻は、事故の時刻に関し、重要な証拠であった。
Choi Moon-soon, Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“In that case, if the CCTVs did shut down, it must have been collectively at 9:22. That is what
the Joint Investigation Group stated.“
民主党、Choi Moon-soon 議員
「その場合、CCTVがシャットダウンしたのは、すべてそろって9時22分であったに違いありません。それが合同調査チームが述べたことでした。」
21. 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분인지 17분인지는 CCTV 동영상에 찍혀 있는 시간을 보면 알수 있습니다. 대부분의 CCTV는 상황이 벌어진 시각을 정확히 알수 있도록 화면 어딘가에 정확한 현재 시각이 찍혀 나오도록 돼 있습니다. 그런데 군이 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 제공한 CCTV 화면 스틸을 보면 어디에도 시간은 찍혀 있지 않습니다.
The CCTV on the Cheonan, like most CCTVs, have a precise time code on the screen, so that the time when the camera recorded the image is both clear and visible. However, in the images submitted to the National Assembly’s special committee, the time code is missing.
記録された時刻はCCTV画面でたやすく確認できる。 天安艦のCCTVは大抵のCCTV同様、画面上に正確なタイム・コードを載せるので、それによりカメラが映像を記録した時刻ははっきり見て取れる。しかしながら、国会特別委員会に提出された映像にはそのタイム・コードが画面上になかった。
Kim Ok-ryun, Commander, Ministry of National Defense
国防大臣、軍司令官 Kim Ok-ryun
Reporter:“Why was the last time marked on the CCTVs 9:17 p.m.?”
レポーター：「なぜ、CCTVに記録されている最後の時刻が午後９時１７分だったのですか？」
Minister: “It was because of errors in both the camera’s timers and computer servers.”
大臣：「それはエラーのせいだった。カメラのタイマーのエラー、コンピュータのサーバーのエラーだった。」
22. 군 역시 CCTV 화면에 찍혀 있는 마지막 시간이 17분이라는 점은 인정했습니다. 그렇다면 군 설명대로 CCTV가 실제 시간과 오차가 날수 있는 것인지 전문가에게 물어봤습니다.
Authorities stated that the final time recorded on the CCTV footage was 9:17 p.m. We contacted a CCTV expert to find out if their explanation was plausible.
当局はCCTVに記録されていた最終のタイム・コードは、午後９時１７分だったと述べた。我々は、その説明がもっともなものかどうか知るため、CCTVの専門家に尋ねてみた。
CCTV Security Systems Official
“1 in 1000? The possibility is less than 1%. Why is the time record 9:17 even though the real
time was 9:22? It’s a mystery to me.”
CCTV保安設備係
「千に一つでしょうかね？ その可能性は1%未満です。本当の時刻が９時22分であったのなら、なぜ9時17分になるのか？ 私には謎です。」
（Clockwise: Rear diesel engine room 9:13:06, Front diesel engine room 9:13:16, Rear gas turbine room 9:17:03, AC/Ref plant 9:15:50, Front gas turbine room 9:16:12, Steering gear room 9:17:01
時計回りに：天安艦のディーゼルエンジンルーム：9時13分6秒、 前方ディーゼルエンジンルーム：9時13分16秒、 後方ガスタービン室：9時16分12秒、 操舵室：9時17分1秒 ）
23. 미스테리는 이뿐이 아닙니다. CCTV 시간은 각기 다른 시간대에 끊겼으며 빠른 것은 13분에 끊긴 것도 있습니다.
The controversy went further. All of the cameras shut down at different times, and some of them even stopped at 9:13 p.m., at least 8 minutes earlier than the time recorded, according to the Joint Investigation Team.
この問題はさらに論争を高じさせた。合同調査グループによれば、全てのカメラが異なる時刻にシャットダウンし、さらにそのうちの幾つかが止まったのは、記録された時刻より少なくとも８分早い、午後９時13分でさえあったという。
Choi Moon-soon, Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“CCTVs are supposed to shut down together, but each of them shut down at a different time. This is an unacceptable answer.”
民主党国会議員Choi-Moon-soon氏
「CCTVは一斉に停止するものですが、ひとつひとつが異なる時刻に停止したという。これは受け入れられない返答です。」
Kim Ok-ryun, Commander, Ministry of National Defense
―CCTVs are programmed to record if they detect movement.―
国防大臣Kim Ok-ryun軍司令官
―CCTVは動きを発見すれば記録するようにプログラムされている―
Reporter :‘Then, what happened to sergeant A? He stayed in the front diesel engine room until the last moment before the incident. Even if the CCTV has a time error, it should continue until 9:16.’
Minister: “ Yes, that is correct… the only answer we have is that it was due to a time error.
R : “Then what you’re saying is, even though the time recorded is 9:13, the actual time is
9:20:58, and the reason is because of the time code error? “
M: “ Yes. “
レポーター:「それでは、A軍曹に何が起こったのですか？彼は前方のディーゼル・エンジン室に最後までいました。たとえそこのCCTVにタイム・エラーがあるとしても、9時16分まではずっと記録があるはずです。」
大臣:「そのとおりだ。我々にわかっている唯一の答えは、タイムエラーのせいであったということだ。」
レポーター:「それでは大臣が言われているのは、たとえ記録に9時13分とあっても、実際の時刻は9時21分で、その誤差はタイム・コードのエラーが原因だということですね？」
大臣:「そうだ。」
CCTV Security Systems Official
“They say that the time codes of 9:13, 9:17 and 9:22 all occurred at 9:22? That’s just not right.”
(CCTV保安装置係)
「記録された時刻は9時13分、9時17分、9時22分で、実際にはすべて9時22分に起こったと当局は言っている。それはまったく理屈に合いません。」
24. 또한, 군은 당초 천안함에 설치한 11대의 CCTV 가운데 여섯 대만 부분 복원에 성공했다고 밝혔습니다. 그러나 천안함 CCTV 복원을 맡은 업체의 말은 다릅니다.
Military sources also did not release all of the footage. They announced that only 6 of the 11 cameras were restored, but the company responsible for the restoration gave a different statement.
軍関係筋はまた、撮影された映像をすべて公開したわけではない。当局は11のカメラのうち6個しか回収されなかったと発表したが、その回収を担当した会社は別の意見であった。
Manager, CCTV Data Restoration Company
CCTVデータ回収会社のマネージャー
Reporter:“Your team restored video data from 9:00p.m. and 9:30p.m. first, then eventually
restored all the other data, is that correct? ”
Manager:“Yes, that’s correct.”
レポーター:「お宅の会社のチームはまず、午後9時と9時30分のものからビデオ・データを回収し、それから最終的に他のデータ全てを回収した、それに間違いありませんね？」
マネージャー: 「そのとおりです。」
（-gra: gyro room, A sergeant patrol course ジャイロ・ルーム 軍曹が見回り）
25. 군은 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 이 스틸을 CCTV의 마지막 장면으로 제시하면서, 장병들이 운동을 하는 등 평온한 상태였다고 전하고 있습니다.
The military released these pictures as the last scenes captured by the CCTV footage. Here, sailors go about their daily routines, including exercise aboard the ship.
軍はこれらの映像はCCTVの撮影が最後に捕らえたシーンであると発表した。ここで、乗組員たちは、船での運動を含め通常任務を行っている。
그런데 화면 속에서 순찰을 돌며 다섯 곳에 등장한 A 하사의 시신은 함미가 아닌 함수쪽 자이로실에서 나왔습니다. 스틸 속에서 A 하사는 얼룩무늬 군복을 입고 있습니다. 그러나 시신은 검은색 동절기 근무복을 입은 채 발견됐습니다. 스틸 속 장면과 사망 순간 사이에 일정 시간 간격이 있음을 알 수 있습니다.
This is an officer found in the bow of the ship, which was
broken in two.This footage from the final moment of the ship shows him patrolling. However,
all five sets of footage were not taken in the bow, but in the ship’s stern.
The officer wears a camouflage uniform in the video, but his body was recovered wearing a
black winter uniform. These facts suggest the fact that this footage was not taken from the
last moments before the ship sank.
これは二つに折れた船の船首で見つかった兵士だ。最後の瞬間の映像からは、彼が見回りをしていたことがわかる。しかしながら、一連の5つの画像のすべては、船首ではなくて船尾で撮られたものだ。この兵士は映像では迷彩服を着ているが、回収された遺体は黒の冬の軍服を着ていた。これらの事実は、映像が船が沈む前、最後の瞬間に撮影されたものではないことを示している。
디젤기관실에서 근무하던 두 하사의 시신은 각기 다른 곳에서 나왔습니다. 한명은 그대로 디젤기관실에서 발견된 반면, 다른 한명은 승조원 식당에서 발견됐습니다.
Here, two officers work in the diesel engine room. Both would become fatalities of the incident. The body of one officer was discovered in the same room, but the body of the other was discovered in the crew cafeteria.
こちらの映像はディーゼルエンジン室で作業する二人の下士官で、どちらも事故で死亡することになる。ひとりの遺体はその部屋で見つかったが、他方の遺体は乗組員用カフェテリアで見つかった。
군은 이 장면이 CCTV에 찍힌 마지막 장면이라고 하면서도 녹화 시간을 뺏습니다. 우리는 이 장면이 실제 천안함의 마지막 순간인지 아니면 9시13분에서 17분의 상황인지 알 수 없습니다. 또한 이 장면 이후 어떤 상황이 발생한 것은 아닌지도 알 수 없습니다.
The military declared that this was the last footage recorded aboard the ship, but the time code has disappeared from the footage. This could very well be footage of the ship’s last moments, just as the military explained, but some believe it could also be the time between 9:13 and 9:17. What happened on the ship between these moments and the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
軍はこれが天安での最後の映像だと言明したが、タイムコードはその映像から消えている。これはひょっとしたら、軍が説明したように天安号の最後の瞬間の撮影でありえるだろう。しかし、この映像は9時13分から9時17分の間であっただろうと考えるものもいる。この時刻と船の沈没の間に船で何が起こったのかは、不明なままである。
공교롭게도 이 13분에서 17분은 엠비씨가 공개한 바 있는 해군 및 해경 상황일지의 최초 상황발생 보고 시간과 비슷한 시간대입니다.
Strangely, the time code on the CCTV recordings disappears right around the time of the incident, reported by the South Korean navy and maritime police to superiors a few days after the incident. The times were later disclosed by a television reporter.
不思議なことに、事故の数日後の韓国海軍と海洋警察による上司への報告では、CCTV撮影のタイム・コードはちょうどその事故の頃に消えている。その時刻は後に、テレビ局レポーターにより明るみに出された。
25-1. 9시22분 전에 다른 상황이 있었다면 아무 이상이 없었던 천안함이 어뢰 공격으로 일격에 침몰됐다는 군의 발표는 설득력을 잃어버립니다. 어뢰 공격의 직접 증거인 1번 어뢰는 끝없는 의혹을 받아 왔습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded that a torpedo from a North Korean submarine struck the ship, and stated that there were no circumstances prior to 9:22 p.m. that were out of the ordinary. If any irregular situation transpired before 9:22 p.m.,then the Joint Investigation Group’s “surprise attack theory” should be reconsidered. In fact, the fragments of No.1 torpedo, the Joint Investigation Group’s “smoking gun,” have been contested by experts since they were first introduced to the public on May 20th.
合同調査グループは、北朝鮮の潜水艦が発射した魚雷が天安艦に命中したと結論づけ、午後9時22分以前には尋常でない状況は何もなかったと述べた。もし尋常ではない何らかの状況が9時22分より前に発生していたら、合同調査グループの「不意打ち攻撃論理」は再考されるべきである。実際に、合同調査グループが「証拠」とする一番魚雷の断片は、5月20日に初めて公開されて以来何人かの専門家から異議が出されている。
-4: Flaws of critical evidence
決定的証拠の誤り
Yoon Jong-sung, Investigation Bureau Director, Ministry of Defense
“We carried out a thorough search of an area 500 yards long and 500 yards wide, using the
point of the explosion as the central point.”
国防省調査局監督官 Yoon Jong-sung氏
「我々は爆発地点を中心に縦500ヤード、横500ヤードの地域を徹底的に捜索しました。」
26. 게다가 어뢰를 발견했다는 폭발원점 인근에서 정밀한 수색이 가능했는지도 의문입니다.
Questions remain about whether such a precise search was possible in the location where a trawler discovered the torpedo fragments.
トロール漁船が魚雷の一部を見つけた地点で正確な探索が可能かどうか、疑問がある。
최문순 의원과 기자들은 공식 폭발원점 근처 해역을 조사하다가 2000톤급의 침몰선을 발견했습니다.
Lawmaker Choi and reporters discovered a 2,000 ton sunken vessel near the site of the sinking during their investigation.
Choi議員とレポーターたちは調査を行う間、天安艦沈没現場の近くで2000トンの沈没船を一隻発見した。
Choi Moon-soon, Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“I met the owner of the trawler that discovered the “No. 1 torpedo.” He said that the operation was not easy because he had to conduct the search while maneuvering around the sunken
ship. “
民主党Choi Moon-soon 国会議員
「私は「一番魚雷」を発見したトロール船の持ち主に会いました。彼は沈没船の近くで船を操舵しながら捜索を行わねばならなかったから、回収作業は簡単ではなかったと言いました。」
27. 합조단은 이 침몰선이 일제시대의 상선으로 추정된다며, 그 존재를 사건 초기부터 알고 있었다고 말합니다. 천안함과의 연관성이 없는 것으로 판단해 공개하지 않았다는 것입니다. 전문가들은 그러나 이 정도로 큰 침몰선이 해당 해역에 잠겨 있었다면 1번 어뢰를 수거하는 것은 불가능에 가까운 일이라고 합니다.
The Joint Investigation Group said that they believed the vessel was a merchant ship that had sunk over 60 years ago. They were already aware of the ship before the team led by Lawmaker Choi discovered it, but decided not to announce it, because it was unrelated to the Cheonan.
Salvage experts, however, say its presence is significant in regards to the “No. 1” torpedo fragments uncovered by a trawler.
合同調査グループは、その船は60年以上前に沈んだ民間商船であると自分たちは考えたと述べた。彼らはChoi議員率いる調査チームがそれを見つける以前にはもう、その沈没船に気がついていたが、それを発表しないことにした、なぜなら天安艦とは無関係だったからだ。しかしながら、引き上げの専門家は、その沈没船の存在はトロール船によって発見された「一番」魚雷の断片に関して重要であると述べる。
Lee Jong-in, CEO, Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation Service
“The military insists that they located the torpedo below the site of the incident. There is a sunken vessel just 200 meters from the location, which means that they did not search surrounding areas.”
アルファ海底技術法人サービスCEO、Lee Jong-in
「軍は事故現場の真下で魚雷を発見したと主張している。その場所からほんの200メートルのところに一隻の沈没船がある、ということは、彼らは周辺の地域を捜索しなかったのだ。」
28. 조류와 수심을 고려할 때 쌍끌이 어선의 그물 길이가 300미터가 넘어야만 쌍끌이 어선 운용이 가능하며, 이 경우 침몰선을 피해 다니며 정밀 수색한다는 것은 힘들다는 것입니다.
Salvage expert Lee Jong-in says that a trawl net must be more than 300 meters away from the ship to operate. The fragments of the No. 1 torpedo were discovered within 300 meters of the sunken vessel, meaning that it would have been nearly impossible for the trawler to uncover the fragments while avoiding wreckage from large vessels.
引き上げの専門家、Lee Jong-inは、トロール船が作業するには、網を300メートル以上離しておかねばならないという。一番魚雷の断片は沈没船から300メートル以内のところで見つかったが、それはつまり、大型の難破船を避けながらそのような断片をトロール船が発見することがほぼ不可能であっただろうことを意味する。
Lee Jong-in, CEO, Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation Service
“To recover the torpedo, the trawler must be 100 meters north of the sunken ship. In that case, there is no way the trawl net would have been able to avoid the sunken ship.”
（同上）
「魚雷を回収するためには、トロール船はその沈没船の北100メートルにいなければなりません。その場合、トロール船の網が沈没船を回避できたはずがありません。」
29. 러시아 조사단도 이 증거물이 6개월 이상 수중에 있었던 것으로 보인다며 증거 능력에 회의를 나타냈습니다. 그러나 무엇보다도 어뢰 폭발로 설명이 안되는 부분은 바로 충격파입니다.
수중에서 폭발이 일어나면 먼저 충격파가 물을 타고 구형으로 전파됩니다. 이후 가스버블이 팽창과 수축을 거쳐 수면에 도달하게 되면 강력한 물기둥으로 솟구치게 됩니다.
선체를 직접 타격하는 버블제트 물기둥에 대해서는 그동안 많이 알려져 왔습니다.
The Russian team also cast doubt on the “No. 1” torpedo. They deduced that it had been underwater for more than 6 months, far longer than the Joint Investigation Group’s estimation at 2 months. Moreover, the part of the torpedo theory they simply could not explain away was the shock wave that split the ship in two.
When a torpedo explodes in the water, the primary impact is a shock wave, which spreads through the water in the shape of a sphere, The water column produced by the gas babble)is the second effect of the explosion. The Joint Investigation Group explained that the water column was the main cause of the ship’s split, and was therefore highly publicized.
ロシアのチームもまた「一番」魚雷に疑問を呈した。彼らはその魚雷が、合同調査グループがいう2ヶ月よりもはるかに長い6ヶ月以上の間、海底にあったと推論した。さらに、魚雷理論の一部で言い抜けることがどうしてもできないのが、艦を二つにわったというショック波のことであった。水中で魚雷が爆発すれば、まず第一余波がショック波で、それは球形になり水中に広がる。そのバブルジェットが生む水柱が爆発の第二余波である。合同調査グループは、その水柱が艦船を二つに割った主要原因だと説明し、そのため水柱の件は何度も報道された。
29-1. 그러나 실제 폭발 에너지의 53퍼센트를 차지하는 것은 바로 이 충격파입니다. 국내의 한 연구원은 이 충격파가 중력가속도의 열여덟배, 즉 18G를 넘어가게 되면 머리의 인체 안정성을 확보할수 없다고 말합니다.
The shock wave employs 53 percent of the explosion’s energy. One expert that spoke on the condition of anonymity said that if the shockwave is 18 times stronger than “G,” the acceleration of gravity, the human body is unable to resist damage.
ショック波には爆発のエネルギーの53％が使われる。ひとりの匿名の専門家によれば、そのショック波は重力加速度の１Ｇの18倍の強さで、人体はその打撃に耐えることができない。
South Korean Physics Scientist
Question: Where did the 18G and 50G criteria come from?
Military: “ NASA conducted experiments and set up the standards”
韓国の物理学者
「18Ｇと50Ｇという基準はどこからきたのか？」
軍当局「NASAが実験して基準を確立した」
30. 합조단은 그동안 천안함의 경우 TNT 이삼백 키로 규모의 수중 폭발의 영향을 받았다고 주장해 왔습니다. 그 영향에 대한 전문가의 의견은 이렇습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded from calculations that the explosion that split the Cheonan was equal to 200-300 kilograms of TNT. Expert Shin Yong-shik, a member of the Joint Investigation Group, says that when an explosion takes place, the following would result.
合同調査グループは、天安の船体を二つに割った爆発は、TNT(トリニトロトルエン)200~300キログラムに相当すると結論づけた。合同調査グループのメンバーである、専門家のShin Yong-sikさんは、爆発が起これば、次ぎのようなことが生じるだろうと言う。
Shin Young-sik, Professor of Ocean Systems Engineering, Mokpo National Maritime University
“The impact could be 100G or more. In that case, the crewmembers would have flown like bullets from a gun. They would have sustained hits from every direction, may have fractured bones and could even have died.”
国立木浦海洋大学の海洋システム工学教授、Shin Young-sik 氏
「衝撃は100Ｇかそれ以上でありえます。その場合乗組員は、銃から飛び出る弾丸のように飛ばされていたでしょう。あらゆる方向から物が打ち当たって骨折し死亡した可能性さえあります。」
31. 이 장면은 사건 발생 13일만인 4월 7일, 국군수도병원에서 기자회견 자리에 선 천안함 생존자들의 모습입니다. 일부를 제외하곤 대부분 큰 부상없이 멀쩡합니다. 이들이 100G의 충격을 받은 것으로는 보이지 않습니다.
사망자들 역시 마찬가지입니다. 국립과학수사연구소는 천안함 사망자들의 사체를 검안한 결과, 일부 골절이 있지만 사인은 전부 익사인 것으로 추정된다고 밝혔습니다.
This footage shows the Cheonan survivors 2 weeks after the incident. With the exception of two to three crew members, they show little evidence of injuries, and could not have sustained the 100G impact.
The bodies of the deceased crewmembers are also nearly identical. The National Institute of Scientific Investigation, which conducted autopsies of the bodies, concluded that although some of them sustained bone fractures, the cause of death, without exception, was drowning.
この映像は事故の2週間後の生存者たちである。２～3人の例外を除き、乗組員たちが負傷した証拠はほとんどなく、また100Ｇの衝撃に耐えることができたはずがない。死亡した乗組員の体も、本人であることがほぼ確認できるものである。その遺体を検死解剖した国立科学調査研究所は、幾つかの遺体に骨折があったものの、犠牲者の死因は例外なく溺死であると結論した。
32. 게다가 1번 어뢰의 실제 폭발량은 그간의 설명보다 훨씬 강력한 것으로 드러났습니다. 천안함에서는 티앤티 외에도 HMX와 RDX라는 고성능 폭약이 검출됐는데, 흔히 이런 폭약을 혼합해 훨씬 강력한 폭발 효과를 낸다고 합니다.
The explosive power of the “No. 1” torpedo was in fact stronger than indicated on the Joint Investigation Group’s interim report. The Joint Investigation Group detected HMX and RDX on the ship, both highly powerful explosives in comparison to TNT.
「一番」魚雷の爆発力は実際ならば、合同調査グループの中間報告で示されたものより強力であったろう。合同調査グループは船上で、どちらもTNTよりずっと強力な爆発物であるHMX(高融点爆薬)とRDX (シクロトリメチレントリニトロアミン)を検知した。
Explosives Expert ｢爆発物専門家｣
Anonymous explosive expert:
“If high explosives are mixed, the power is 2 to 3 times stronger than TNT. Experts surely
know that. “
匿名の爆発物専門家：「もし爆発性の高いものが混ざっていたら、その火薬はTNTよりも2～3倍強力になる。専門家なら必ず知っていることです。」
33. 5월 20일 발표 이후 3개월간 합조단은 시뮬레이션 결과 TNT 이삼백키로 규모 폭발시 천안함과 유사한 손상이 발생한다고 주장해 왔습니다. 백령도 인근에서 발생한 지진파의 세기도 TNT로 환산하면 250키로 규모로 파악돼 1번 어뢰의 폭발량과 일치한다고도 했습니다. 그러나 전문가들의 의견을 종합할 때 1번 어뢰의 폭발량을 TNT로 환산하면 350에서 500키로 규모가 되므로, 합조단의 설명은 심각한 오류에 빠집니다.
After the interim announcement on May 20th, the Joint Investigation Group maintained that the scale of the explosion was between 200 and 300 kilograms of TNT. This was consistent with the seismic wave produced around Baengnyeong Island at the time of the incident. However, the final compiled data from the Joint Investigation Group’s team of experts revealed that the scale of the explosion was in fact between 350 and 500 kilograms of TNT. This did not match the seismic wave measured at the time, meaning the Joint Investigation Group’s report contained significant inconsistencies.
5月20日の中間発表後、合同調査グループは爆発の規模はTNT200～300キログラム相当であったと主張した。これは事故当時ベンニョン島周辺で生じた振動波と一致している。しかしながら、専門家からなる合同調査グループが最終的に出したデータは、TNT350~500キログラム相当である。これはその頃に測定されたと振動波は合致しなかった。ということは合同調査グループの報告は重大な矛盾を含んでいた。
33-1. 합조단 역시 이런 오류를 인식했는지 9월13일 낸 최종 보고서를 통해 3개월 넘도록 유지해왔던 설명을 뒤집었습니다. 다시 시뮬레이션 해 보니 TNT 360키로 규모가 맞다는 것입니다. 그러나 지진파의 크기와의 불일치는 명쾌히 설명하지 못했습니다. 지진파는 합조단이 그동안 사고 장소와 시간을 특정하는 근거로 사용돼 왔습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group admitted its mistake and altered the scale of the explosion. They said that an explosion of 350 kilograms of TNT fit the rest of their data when they altered the simulation. Unsurprisingly, they could not give a clear explanation about the mismatch with the seismic wave data. The Joint Investigation Group previously presented the seismic wave data as strong evidence for the time and location of the incident.
合同調査グループはその間違いを認め、爆発の規模を修正した。彼らはTNT350キログラムの爆発は、シミュレーションを修正すれば自分たちの他のデータに当てはまると述べた。何の驚きでもないが、彼らの振動波のデータとの不一致について明確な説明を行うことができなかった。合同調査グループはそれ以前に、事件の時刻と場所の確たる証拠として振動波のデータを提出していた。
34. 그 어뢰를 쐈다는 북한의 연어급 잠수정에 대해서도 설명이 명쾌하지 않습니다. 군의 설명에 따르면 이 잠수정은 기지에서 사고 지점까지 디귿자 모양으로 310키로미터를 이동해 왔습니다. 이 잠수정의 속도는 시속 5키로에 불과해, 목표 지점까지 도달하는데 이틀이 걸렸습니다.
The explanation for the North Korean submarine torpedo launch was even more unclear than the explanation for the torpedo itself. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, the North Korean Yono-class submarine departed from its North Korean base and took a route through international waters that stretched about 310 kilometers in length. A member of the Joint Investigation Group told Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon that the submarine’s speed, at 5 kilometers per hour, meant that the journey took 2 days.
北朝鮮の潜水艦による魚雷発射という説明は、魚雷そのものについての説明よりずっと不明瞭であった。韓国の国防省によれば、北朝鮮のヨオノ級潜水艦が北朝鮮内のその基地を出発し、310キロメートルの長さにわたって広がる公海を航行したという。合同調査グループのメンバーの一人がChoi Moon-soon国会議員に、時速5キロメートルのその潜水艦の速度ではその航行は2日かかったことになると述べた。
Choi Moon-soon, Lawmaker, Democratic Party
“This means that the submarine traveled for 2 days and torpedoed a moving patrol combat corvette with a single shot.Then, it took the same route back to North Korea over a 2-day period.“
民主党国会議員Choi-Moon-soon氏
「そうであれば、北朝鮮の潜水艦は2日間潜行して航行し、航行中の哨戒艇を一発の魚雷で仕留めた、それから同じ航路を2日以上かけて北朝鮮に戻ったことになります。」
Lee Tae-ho, People’s Solidarity for a Participatory Democracy
“This is not a fact, nor is it confirmed information. It is just widespread speculation.
The speculation is that the submarine travelledall the way from and back to North Korea without getting caught by the US and South Korea. ”
PSPDのLee Tae-hoさん
「これは事実ではありませんし、確認情報でもありません。それはただ広まっている推測です。
その推測は、米国にも韓国にも捕まることなしに潜水艦が北朝鮮までを往復したというものです。
35. 전문가들은 천안함 사건을 미 해군의 아이오와함 사건과 비교하곤 합니다. 1989년 4월, 아이오와함 선체의 포탑에서 의문의 폭발이 일어나 47명의 수병이 사망하는 사건이 발생합니다. 해군은 조사 3개월 만에 동성애자인 포병 클레이튼 하트윅이 고의적으로 뇌관을 건드려 폭발이 일어났다고 발표했습니다.
Some experts have drawn parallels between the Cheonan incident and the explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa.
On April 19, 1989, the gun turret in the central gun room aboard the U.S.S Iowa exploded, killing 47 of the turret’s crewmembers. After a 3-month investigation, the U.S. Navy concluded that Clayton Hartwig, a crewmember, had intentionally caused the explosion. News media at the time published stories focusing on a concocted failed romantic relationship with another male crewmember in citing the criminal reasons for his actions.
専門家の中には、天安艦事故とU.S.S.アイオワの船内爆発の類似を指摘する者もいる。
1989年4月19日、U.S.Sアイオワ艦内の中央機銃室のガン・ターレット（搭乗式固定砲台）が爆発して、ターレット要員47名が死んだ。3ヶ月の調査のあと、米海軍は乗組員のひとり、クレイトン・ハートウィグが意図的に爆発を引き起こしたと結論した。当時のニュース・メディアはその犯行の動機として、別の男性乗組員との愛情関係のもつれというねつ造ばなしを書き立てた。
35-1. 그러나 미 의회는 조사결과를 신뢰하지 않았습니다. 해군은 사고 직후 현장을 제대로 보존조차 하지 않았습니다. 의회는 독립기관인 샌디아 연구소에 조사를 의뢰했고, 2년에 가까운 재조사 끝에 하트윅의 유족은 군으로부터 사과를 받아냈습니다.
The United States Senate, however, criticized the results of the investigation. The Senate discovered that the Navy had failed to even properly preserve the site of the incident. They decided to conduct a reinvestigation and assigned the task to Sandia Laboratories, as an independent scientific study. After an investigation lasting nearly 2 years, the Navy admitted to their mistakes and apologized to Hartwig’s family.
しかし米国上院はその調査報告を批判した。上院は海軍が事故現場を適切に保存さえしなかったこと発見。再調査を行うことを決定し、その任務を独立した科学的調査としてサンディア研究所に委託した。ほぼ2年続いた調査のあと、海軍は自らの間違いを認め、ハートウィグの家族に謝罪した。
Noh Jong-myeon, National Union of Media Workers
“As demonstrated by a number of cases internationally, military authorities often try to fabricate incidents related to them. The attention of the people and the National Assembly is essential for revealing the truth. Therefore, there should definitely be a reinvestigation.”
全国メディア労働者組合、Noh Jong-myeonさん
「国際的にもたくさんのケースで示されているように、軍当局はしばしば、自分たちに関係する事件をねつ造しようとします。真実を暴くためには大衆と国会の注視が欠かせません。それゆえ、再調査は絶対に行われるべきです。」
36. 천안함의 경우도 조사 주체와 기간에 대해 외부는 물론 합조단 내부에서도 비판의 목소리가 나오고 있습니다.
There has also been criticism from within and outside the Joint Investigation Group.
合同調査グループの内外からも批判があがっている。
NhoIn-shik,
Joint Investigation Group Civilian Member, Chungnam National University Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Professor
“To determine the exact cause of the sinking, I think the Joint Investigation Group requires a bigger budget and more time to investigate step-by-step(ナシ)”
.
軍民合同調査グループの民間人メンバー、国立Chungnam大学海洋建築海洋工学教授、
Noh In-shik氏
「沈没の正確な原因を突き止めるには、合同調査グループには、段階的に調査するための、より多額の予算と時間が必要です。」
Lee Jong-in, CEO, Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation Service
“There were only 10 days to conduct an investigation at sea due to the inclement weather.
That means that the Joint Investigation Group did not have time to investigate any other
possible causes of the incident except for a torpedo attack.”
アルファ海底技術法人サービス、Lee Jong-inさん
「天候が悪かったため、調査を行ったのはわずか10日でした。つまり合同調査グループには、あの事故の原因として、魚雷攻撃をのぞく他の可能性を調査する時間はなかったことになります。」
-Lee myung-bak, President of South Korea
“My fellow citizens, circumstance around Korea Peninsular is getting into important turning point.”
李明博韓国大統領
「みなさん、朝鮮半島周辺の状況は重要な転機にさしかかっています。」
37. 천안함 이후 한미는 대규모 해상군사훈련을 강행했습니다. 중국과 북한도 군사훈련과 해안포 사격으로 맞섰습니다.
After the sinking of the Cheonan, the United States and South Korea launched large-scale joint military exercises on the seas surrounding the Korean peninsula. As tensions escalated, China’ Navy responded with their own military exercises, and North Korea fired artillery into the West Sea.
天安艦沈没後、米国と韓国は朝鮮半島を囲む海域で大規模な合同軍事訓練を行った。緊張が高まるなか、中国海軍が軍事訓練で対抗し、北朝鮮は西海に砲撃を行った。
Jeong Se-hyun, Former Minister of Unification of South Korea
“Some have called this the new Cold War. The sinking of the Cheonan occurred in the midst of a U.S.-China competition for global power. Since the incident, the South Korea-U.S. and North Korea-China alliances have entered a new era of confrontation.”
韓国の前統一相、Jeong Se-hyun氏
「これを新たな冷戦と呼ぶ人もいます。 天安艦沈没は、グローバルな覇権を求める米国と中国の競争のただ中で発生しました。その事故以来、韓国と米国、北朝鮮と中国の同盟は、新たな対立の時代に入りました。」
38. 한국의 대미의존외교는 심각한 부작용을 일으켰고, 북한은 급속도로 중국 영향권으로 편입될 조짐을 보이고 있습니다.
South Korea’s foreign policy has now become increasingly dependent on the United States, and as a consequence, North Korea’s dependency on China is rising quickly.
韓国の外交政策は今、ますます米国への依存を強めており、その結果北朝鮮の中国への依存も急速に高まっている。
“The South Korean government used the sinking of the Cheonan incident for domestic political purposes. As a result, China has placed a check on South Korea through economic disadvantages. South Korea can no longer refuse the U.S. demands to join sanctions on Iran. I can now say that South Korea has been placed in a difficult position.“
「韓国政権は天安艦沈没の事故を、国内の政治目的に利用しました。その結果、中国は韓国に対し経済的な規制を行いました。韓国はもはやイランへの制裁に参加せよとの米国の度重なる求めを断り切れません。私は今、韓国は困難な立場に置かれたということができます。」
39. 천안함 침몰의 원인이 무엇인지는 명확치 않습니다. 그러나 조사과정과 정보공개가 부실했다는 것은 명확합니다. 이 부실한 조사에 한반도의 운명을 맡기기에는 오늘 우리의 상황이 너무 엄혹합니다.
Who or what was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan? As of now, there is no definitive answer. But one thing is clear. The investigation of the sinking was incomplete, lacking in transparency, and even subject to political manipulation. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is far too critical to base far-reaching policy decisions on such a flawed investigation.
天安艦沈没は誰が、何が起こしたのか？ 現在のところ、決定的な回答はない。しかし明瞭なことがひとつある。沈没調査は不完全であり、透明性に欠け、政治的操作に利用された。朝鮮半島の状況は大きな危機にあり、広範な政治決定をこのような欠陥調査に基づかせることはできない。
Showing posts with label Sinking of South Korean Warship 天安艦沈没事件. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sinking of South Korean Warship 天安艦沈没事件. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Hankyoreh's documentary on flaws of official investigation on Cheonan 天安艦事件調査の矛盾を暴く ハンギョレ系ＴＶ [심층리포트] 천안함 사건 5대 미스터리
Attention: See underneath the video links for the full narration script of the video, in Korean and in English (courtesy of HaniTV). A Japanese version will be uploaded soon.
Now a Japanese transolation of the script is available. 日本語訳ができました。こちらをご覧ください。Please see this LINK.
韓国のニュースサイト、ハンギョレ新聞のビデオ部門が天安艦沈没事件の合同調査団「公式調査結果」の疑問、矛盾点、ロシアの調査団の見解等を、数々の証言とともにわかりやすく映像で、まとめています。大変重要な映像です。どうか広めてください。下記、英語版と韓国語版のビデオリンクです。日本語は今のところありません。日本語では、ハンギョレ日本語版で、最近韓国で出版された本『封印された天安艦の真実』が紹介されており、このビデオが語る内容と重なるのでどうぞ読んでください。ここです。
충격파, CCTV, 연어급 잠수정, 1번 어뢰, 해안 초병의 증언... 9월 13일 천안함 민군합동조사단의 발표에도 불구하고 숱한 의문들이 해소되지 않은 채 남아 있다. 취재진은 그간 알려지지 않은 의문들을 심층 취재 했다. See below for the video in Korean.
Please see the English version of this important video, shared by No Base Stories of Korea blog. By Hani TV, November 11, 2010. It reveals all the flaws and contradiction of the findings of Joint Investigation Group of the sinking of South Korean warship Cheonan on March 26. The original Korean version was released on September 13. Both video are embedded below.
Here is Hankyoreh's report.
HaniTV, the video production component of the Hankyoreh, released an English language version of their Cheonan documentary entitled, “Beneath the Surface: the Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan,” on Nov. 12. HaniTV reporters have worked in conjunction with National Assembly lawmakers, salvage experts, scientists, and members of civic organizations to conduct a deeper exploration into the South Korean government-led Civilian-Military Joint Investigation Group’s (JIG) final report on the sinking of the Cheonan.
The 24-minute documentary primarily explores scientific aspects of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan, finding significant flaws in the evidence presented by JIG and referring to the findings of the Russian investigation group.
The film also frames the ship’s sinking in a political context, and contends that tensions between the South Korea-U.S. and North Korea-China alliances in addition to the June 2 local elections were both factors in the rush to release the JIG’s findings, after a short two-month investigation.
The documentary has been posted on YouTube, the HaniTV and the English Hani website (right column), and can be found at:
youtube.com/watch?v=SDITkTEDVNA
hanitv.com/sisa/sub_index.php?depth1_idx=4
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
For the past articles and reports on this issue on Peace Philosophy Centre's blog, please see this LINK.
Spread the word!
Here is the English version
Here is Korean .
0. 2010년 3월 26일 밤. 천안함의 승조원들은 닥쳐올 비극을 모른 채 평온한 일상을 보내고 있었습니다. 우리는 이날 밤 그들이 죽음을 맞은 이유에 대해 명확히 알고 있지 못합니다.
On the night of March 26th, crewmembers of the South Korean naval warship Cheonan wrapped up an ordinary day, unaware of the tragedy on the horizon. Those were the last known moments of the ship, and the reason for the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
1. 그들이 탄 배는 남북이 대치한 백령도 인근에서 침몰했습니다. 함수와 함미가 인양된 뒤 본격적인 조사에 착수한 민군합동조사단은, 5월 20일 천안함을 침몰시킨 범인으로 북한을 지목했습니다. 사건이 일어난지 두달도 안된 시점이었고, 6.2 지자체 선거운동 개시일이었습니다.
The Cheonan, a patrol combat corvette, sank southwest of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The South Korean government put together a Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group that included representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Australia and launched a full-scale investigation after salvaging the sunken vessel. On May 20th, the investigation group released their findings and pointed to North Korea as the culprit. The day fell just 2 months after the accident, and also coincided with the official launch of the June 2 municipal elections campaign season.
2. 합조단의 결론은 이렇습니다. 백령도 서쪽에서 경비 중이던 천안함은, 9시 22분경 한미 해군 레이더망을 피해 잠입한 북한 잠수정에 의해 기습당합니다. 이 연어급 잠수정이 쏜 중어뢰가 천안함 가스터빈실 아래에서 폭발해 버블효과 물기둥을 일으켰고, 천안함의 허리를 쪼갰다는 것입니다. 그러나 합조단의 결론은 곧바로 숱한 논란을 일으켰습니다.
The investigation team put together its narrative of what happened that night. The Cheonan, while guarding the west coast of the Baengnyeong [백령] Island, was ambushed by a North Korean Yono-class submarine that had penetrated deep into the West Sea, where a joint U.S.-South Korean military drill had taken place earlier that evening. The submarine launched a heavy torpedo, which exploded just below the midsection of the ship, splitting the warship in two. Their conclusion, however, has remained the subject of intense controversy.
13. 취재진이 단독 입수한 러시아 조사단 보고서 요약본에 따르면, 러시아 조사단은 사건 원인과 시간에 대해 한국 측 조사 결과가 들어맞지 않는다고 결론지었습니다. 러시아 조사단은 천안함이 기뢰에 의해 침몰됐을 가능성을 제기했고, 그 이전에 수심이 낮은 해역에서 1차적 사고를 당했다고 봤습니다. 즉, 사고가 두 번 있었다는 것입니다.
Hankyoreh journalists obtained an exclusive copy of the Korean abstract of the report entitled “Data from the Russian Naval Expert Group’s Investigation into the Cause of Sinking of the South Korean Naval Vessel Cheonan.”
The report was a marked contrast to the Joint Investigation Group’s findings. The Russian team concluded that it was not a torpedo, but a floating mine in the water that was responsible for the ship’s sinking, and that before the explosion, the ship had run aground in shallow water. In other words, they believed that two accidents occurred before the sinking.
14. 이와 관련해 도널드 그레그 전 주한미국대사는 뉴욕타임스 인터넷판과 인터내셔널해럴드트리뷴에 흥미로운 글을 기고했습니다. 러시아 고위 인사에게 왜 자국 조사 결과를 공개하지 않느냐고 물어봤더니, 그 조사 결과가 이명박 정권에 큰 정치적 타격을 주고 오바마 행정부를 당황하게 할 수 있기 때문이라고 대답했다는 것입니다.
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg referred to the Russian Naval Experts’ theory in an Op-ed in the International Herald Tribune on August 31st.
Gregg said, “When I asked a well-placed Russian friend why the report has not been made public, he replied, ‘Because it would do much political damage to President Lee Myung-bak and would embarrass President Obama.’”
15. 러시아 조사단은 스크루에 엉켜 있는 어선 그물의 존재를 환기시키고 폭발이 일어나기 전에 천안함이 해저면에 닿아 스크루가 훼손됐다고 설명합니다. 즉 천안함이 직면한 1차적 사고는 좌초 혹은 그와 유사한 상황이라는 것입니다. 30년 간 해난 구조 작업을 해 온 이종인씨는 천안함 사건의 원인이 좌초라고 주장해 왔습니다.
The Russian team’s report states the vessel’s propeller became entangled in a fishing net as it was sailing through shallow waters off the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The ship likely ran aground, and it was this occurrence that was the first cause of the sinking.
Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation specializing in ship wreckage recovery, with over 30 years of salvaging experience, has strongly stressed in his opinions that the ship wreckage points to the fact that the ship had run aground, not that an explosion had occurred.
16. 이 그래픽은 사고 당일 밤 아홉시부터 사고 순간까지 천안함의 항적에 대해, 군과 전문가의 설명을 바탕으로 재구성해본 것입니다. 군의 공식 폭발원점은 수심이 45미터가 넘어 좌초의 여지가 없습니다.
그러나 천안함의 좌초 가능성과 관련해 주목할만한 진술이 있습니다. 바로 백령도 해안 박아무개 초병의 자필 진술서입니다. 그는 당시 섬광을 목격했다는 김 아무개 초병과 함께 초소에 있었습니다.
This computer graphic tracks the ship’s path from 9:00p.m. on March 26th to the moment of the incident. The military stated that the water level at the site of the sinking was more than 45 meters, which meant the ship had no chance of running aground. However, others also gave significant statements about these claims.
This is the handwritten statement of a marine stationed on the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. He is one of the two guards who spotted the white flash when the incident happened.
17. 그 역시 섬광을 목격했다고 진술했습니다. 그런데 그는 섬광이 두 개 였으며 오른쪽 섬광은 두무진 돌출부에 의해 가려져 잘 보이지 않았다고 합니다.
그가 섬광을 봤다고 지목한 지점은 두무진 끝자락이고 군의 공식 폭발 원점과는 상당한 거리가 있습니다. 게다가 수심이 얕아 좌초 가능성이 있는 지역입니다. 군의 공식 폭발 원점은 탁트인 바다라 불빛이 가려질 여지가 없습니다.
The guard talked about the white flash. He said there were two flashes, and the one on the right was partially blocked by Doomujin spur, a large projection of land located unmistakably northwest from the guard’s watch station. The Joint Investigation Group, however, designated the location of the sinking as southwest, an entirely different direction. Shallow waters are located next to Doomujin spur, maintaining the possibility that the ship ran aground. Guards at the watch station have an unobstructed view, leaving little chance that the guard misidentified the area.
18. 그의 다음 진술은 더 놀랍습니다. 그는 밤 9시30분경, 초소 기준 180도 방향으로 3km 떨어진 지점에서, 해군함이 좌초된 초계함을 구조했다는 것입니다. 이 지점은 수심이 얕은 해안 인접 지역입니다. 게다가 좌초라고 쓰고 있습니다.
The guard’s next statement was even more surprising. At 9:30 that night, 180 degrees and 3 kilometers due south of the post, he spotted a navy vessel rescuing the stranded patrol combat corvette, the Cheonan. He said that the site was close to the coast, and in shallow waters. The guard referred to the ship as “having run aground.”
19. 이에 최문순 의원과 기자들은 알파 잠수 이종인 대표의 도움을 받아 이 지점에 대한 해안 조사를 벌였습니다. 그 결과, 해도 상에는 존재하지 않는 여러 암초와 사구의 존재를 확인할 수 있었습니다.
National Assembly Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon of the main opposition Democratic Party investigated the site with several reporters, including HaniTV. At the investigation site, they discovered reefs and sand dunes under the sea that were not marked on the map.
20. 러시아 조사단은 또 사고 시간과 관련해 뜻밖의 사실을 알려줍니다. 천안함 내부에 설치돼 있던 CCTV의 마지막 촬영 시간이 군 발표와 달리 9시17분이라는 겁니다.
군은 CCTV가 전류가 끊기기 1분 전까지 녹화되도록 설정되었으며, 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분이므로 군의 공식 사고 시각 9시22분과 일치한다고 발표했습니다. 때문에 CCTV 시간은 군의 주장을 뒷받침해주는 중요한 근거였습니다.
The report by the team of Russian experts mentioned another important factor previously unknown by the public. The last time recorded by the ship’s CCTV was 9:17 p.m. Military authorities previously reported the last time recorded as 9:21 p.m. CCTV recording systems record images one minute after they occur, meaning the time code would register the incident as 9:22p.m. The CCTV’s recorded time served as important evidence in relation to the time of the incident.
21. 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분인지 17분인지는 CCTV 동영상에 찍혀 있는 시간을 보면 알수 있습니다. 대부분의 CCTV는 상황이 벌어진 시각을 정확히 알수 있도록 화면 어딘가에 정확한 현재 시각이 찍혀 나오도록 돼 있습니다. 그런데 군이 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 제공한 CCTV 화면 스틸을 보면 어디에도 시간은 찍혀 있지 않습니다.
The time recorded is easy to spot on the CCTV screen. Most CCTVs have a precise time code on the screen, so the time that the camera recorded the image is both clear and visible. However, in the images submitted to the National Assembly’s special committee, the time code is missing.
22. 군 역시 CCTV 화면에 찍혀 있는 마지막 시간이 17분이라는 점은 인정했습니다. 그렇다면 군 설명대로 CCTV가 실제 시간과 오차가 날수 있는 것인지 전문가에게 물어봤습니다.
Authorities stated that the last time recorded on the CCTV footage was 9:17 p.m. We contacted a CCTV expert to find out if their explanation was plausible.
23. 미스테리는 이뿐이 아닙니다. CCTV 시간은 각기 다른 시간대에 끊겼으며 빠른 것은 13분에 끊긴 것도 있습니다.
The controversy went further. All of the cameras shut down at different times, and some of them even stopped at 9:13 p.m., at least 8 minutes earlier than the time recorded.
24. 또한, 군은 당초 천안함에 설치한 11대의 CCTV 가운데 여섯 대만 부분 복원에 성공했다고 밝혔습니다. 그러나 천안함 CCTV 복원을 맡은 업체의 말은 다릅니다.
Military sources also did not release all of the footage. They announced that only 6 of the 11 cameras were restored, but the company responsible for the restoration gave a different statement.
25. 군은 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 이 스틸을 CCTV의 마지막 장면으로 제시하면서, 장병들이 운동을 하는 등 평온한 상태였다고 전하고 있습니다.
The military released these pictures as the last scenes captured by the CCTV footage. Here, sailors go about their daily routines, including exercise aboard the ship.
그런데 화면 속에서 순찰을 돌며 다섯 곳에 등장한 A 하사의 시신은 함미가 아닌 함수쪽 자이로실에서 나왔습니다. 스틸 속에서 A 하사는 얼룩무늬 군복을 입고 있습니다. 그러나 시신은 검은색 동절기 근무복을 입은 채 발견됐습니다. 스틸 속 장면과 사망 순간 사이에 일정 시간 간격이 있음을 알 수 있습니다.
This is the body of the officer found on the bow of the ship, which was broken in two. However, of the footage from the final moments of the ship that show him patrolling, all five sets of footage were located not in the bow, but in the ship’s stern. The officer wears a camouflage uniform in the video, but his body was recovered wearing a black winter uniform. These facts point to the fact that this footage was not taken from the last moments before the ship sank.
디젤기관실에서 근무하던 두 하사의 시신은 각기 다른 곳에서 나왔습니다. 한명은 그대로 디젤기관실에서 발견된 반면, 다른 한명은 승조원 식당에서 발견됐습니다.
Here, two officers work in the diesel engine room. Both would become fatalities of the incident. The body of one officer was discovered in the same room, but the body of the other was discovered in the crew cafeteria.
군은 이 장면이 CCTV에 찍힌 마지막 장면이라고 하면서도 녹화 시간을 뺏습니다. 우리는 이 장면이 실제 천안함의 마지막 순간인지 아니면 9시13분에서 17분의 상황인지 알 수 없습니다. 또한 이 장면 이후 어떤 상황이 발생한 것은 아닌지도 알 수 없습니다.
The military declared that this was the last footage recorded aboard the ship, but the time code has disappeared from the footage. This could very well be footage of the ship’s last moments, just as the military explained, but some believe it could also be the time between 9:13 and 9:17. What happened on the ship between these moments and the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
공교롭게도 이 13분에서 17분은 엠비씨가 공개한 바 있는 해군 및 해경 상황일지의 최초 상황발생 보고 시간과 비슷한 시간대입니다.
Strangely, the time code on the CCTV recordings disappears right around the time of the incident, reported by the South Korean navy and maritime police to superiors a few days after the incident. The times were later disclosed by a television reporter.
25-1. 9시22분 전에 다른 상황이 있었다면 아무 이상이 없었던 천안함이 어뢰 공격으로 일격에 침몰됐다는 군의 발표는 설득력을 잃어버립니다. 어뢰 공격의 직접 증거인 1번 어뢰는 끝없는 의혹을 받아 왔습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded that a torpedo from a North Korean submarine struck the ship, and stated that there were no circumstances prior to 9:22 p.m. that were out of the ordinary. unaware that the situation reported before the attack was not out of the ordinary. If any irregular situation transpired before 9:22 p.m., then this “surprise attack theory” should be reconsidered. In fact, the fragments of torpedo No. 1, the Joint Investigation Group’s “smoking gun,” have been contested by experts since they were first introduced to the public on May 20th.
26. 게다가 어뢰를 발견했다는 폭발원점 인근에서 정밀한 수색이 가능했는지도 의문입니다.
Questions remain about whether such a precise search was possible in the location where a trawler discovered the torpedo fragments.
26-1. 최문순 의원과 기자들은 공식 폭발원점 근처 해역을 조사하다가 2000톤급의 침몰선을 발견했습니다.
Lawmaker Choi and reporters discovered a 2,000 ton sunken vessel near the site of the during their investigation.
27. 합조단은 이 침몰선이 일제시대의 상선으로 추정된다며, 그 존재를 사건 초기부터 알고 있었다고 말합니다. 천안함과의 연관성이 없는 것으로 판단해 공개하지 않았다는 것입니다. 전문가들은 그러나 이 정도로 큰 침몰선이 해당 해역에 잠겨 있었다면 1번 어뢰를 수거하는 것은 불가능에 가까운 일이라고 합니다.
The Joint Investigation Group said that they believed the vessel was a merchant ship that had sunk over 60 years ago. They were already aware of the ship before the team led by Lawmaker Choi discovered it, but decided not to announce it, because it was unrelated to the Cheonan.
Salvage experts, however, say its presence is significant in regards to the “No. 1” torpedo fragments uncovered by a trawler.
28. 조류와 수심을 고려할 때 쌍끌이 어선의 그물 길이가 300미터가 넘어야만 쌍끌이 어선 운용이 가능하며, 이 경우 침몰선을 피해 다니며 정밀 수색한다는 것은 힘들다는 것입니다.
Salvage expert Lee Jong-in says that a trawl net must be more than 300 meters away from the ship to operate. The fragments of the No. 1 torpedo were discovered within 300 meters of the sunken vessel, meaning that it would have been nearly impossible for the trawler to uncover the fragments while avoiding wreckage from large vessels.
29. 러시아 조사단도 이 증거물이 6개월 이상 수중에 있었던 것으로 보인다며 증거 능력에 회의를 나타냈습니다. 그러나 무엇보다도 어뢰 폭발로 설명이 안되는 부분은 바로 충격파입니다.
수중에서 폭발이 일어나면 먼저 충격파가 물을 타고 구형으로 전파됩니다. 이후 가스버블이 팽창과 수축을 거쳐 수면에 도달하게 되면 강력한 물기둥으로 솟구치게 됩니다.
선체를 직접 타격하는 버블제트 물기둥에 대해서는 그동안 많이 알려져 왔습니다.
The Russian team also cast doubt on the “No. 1” torpedo. They deduced that it had been underwater for more than 6 months, far longer than the Joint Investigation Group’s estimation at 2 months. Moreover, the part of the torpedo theory they simply could not explain away was the shock wave that split the ship in two.
When a torpedo explodes in the water, the primary impact is a shock wave, which spreads through the water in the shape of a sphere, also called a bubble jet. The water pillar produced by the bubble jet is the second effect of the explosion.
The Joint Investigation Group explained that the water column was the main cause of the ship’s split, and was therefore highly publicized.
29-1. 그러나 실제 폭발 에너지의 53퍼센트를 차지하는 것은 바로 이 충격파입니다. 국내의 한 연구원은 이 충격파가 중력가속도의 열여덟배, 즉 18G를 넘어가게 되면 머리의 인체 안정성을 확보할수 없다고 말합니다.
The shock wave employs 53 percent of the explosion’s energy. One expert that spoke on the condition of anonymity said that if the shockwave is 18 times stronger than “G,” the acceleration of gravity, the human body is unable to resist damage. Experts at NASA also support this finding.
30. 합조단은 그동안 천안함의 경우 TNT 이삼백 키로 규모의 수중 폭발의 영향을 받았다고 주장해 왔습니다. 그 영향에 대한 전문가의 의견은 이렇습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded from calculations that the explosion that split the Cheonan was equal to 200-300 kilograms of TNT. Expert Shin Yong-shik, a member of the Joint Investigation Group, says that when an explosion takes place, the following would result.
31. 이 장면은 사건 발생 13일만인 4월 7일, 국군수도병원에서 기자회견 자리에 선 천안함 생존자들의 모습입니다. 일부를 제외하곤 대부분 큰 부상없이 멀쩡합니다. 이들이 100G의 충격을 받은 것으로는 보이지 않습니다.
사망자들 역시 마찬가지입니다. 국립과학수사연구소는 천안함 사망자들의 사체를 검안한 결과, 일부 골절이 있지만 사인은 전부 익사인 것으로 추정된다고 밝혔습니다.
This footage shows the Cheonan survivors 2 weeks after the incident. With the exception of two to three crew members, they show little evidence of injuries, and could not have sustained the 100G impact.
The bodies of the deceased crewmembers are also nearly identical. The National Institute of Scientific Investigation, which conducted autopsies of the bodies, concluded that although some of them sustained bone fractures, the cause of death, without exception, was drowning.
32. 게다가 1번 어뢰의 실제 폭발량은 그간의 설명보다 훨씬 강력한 것으로 드러났습니다. 천안함에서는 티앤티 외에도 HMX와 RDX라는 고성능 폭약이 검출됐는데, 흔히 이런 폭약을 혼합해 훨씬 강력한 폭발 효과를 낸다고 합니다.
The explosive power of the “No. 1” torpedo was in fact stronger than indicated on the Joint Investigation Group’s final report. The Joint Investigation Group detected HMX and RDX on the ship, both highly powerful explosives in comparison to TNT. This means that if the torpedo exploded beneath the ship, the crew members would have sustained serious injuries.
33. 5월 20일 발표 이후 3개월간 합조단은 시뮬레이션 결과 TNT 이삼백키로 규모 폭발시 천안함과 유사한 손상이 발생한다고 주장해 왔습니다. 백령도 인근에서 발생한 지진파의 세기도 TNT로 환산하면 250키로 규모로 파악돼 1번 어뢰의 폭발량과 일치한다고도 했습니다. 그러나 전문가들의 의견을 종합할 때 1번 어뢰의 폭발량을 TNT로 환산하면 350에서 500키로 규모가 되므로, 합조단의 설명은 심각한 오류에 빠집니다.
After the interim announcement on May 20th, the Joint Investigation Group maintained that the scale of the explosion was between 200 and 300 kilograms of TNT. This was consistent with the seismic wave produced around Baengnyeong Island at the time of the incident. However, the final compiled data from the Joint Investigation Group’s team of experts revealed that the scale of the explosion was in fact between 350 and 500 kilograms of TNT. This did not match the seismic wave measured at the time, meaning the Joint Investigation Group’s contained significant inconsistencies.
33-1. 합조단 역시 이런 오류를 인식했는지 9월13일 낸 최종 보고서를 통해 3개월 넘도록 유지해왔던 설명을 뒤집었습니다. 다시 시뮬레이션 해 보니 TNT 360키로 규모가 맞다는 것입니다. 그러나 지진파의 크기와의 불일치는 명쾌히 설명하지 못했습니다. 지진파는 합조단이 그동안 사고 장소와 시간을 특정하는 근거로 사용돼 왔습니다.
On September 13, the Joint Investigation Group admitted its mistake and altered the scale of the explosion. They said that an explosion of 350 kilograms of TNT fit the rest of their data when they altered the simulation. Unsurprisingly, they could not give a clear explanation about the mismatch with the seismic wave data. The Joint Investigation Group presented the seismic wave data as strong evidence for the time and location of the incident.
34. 그 어뢰를 쐈다는 북한의 연어급 잠수정에 대해서도 설명이 명쾌하지 않습니다. 군의 설명에 따르면 이 잠수정은 기지에서 사고 지점까지 디귿자 모양으로 310키로미터를 이동해 왔습니다. 이 잠수정의 속도는 시속 5키로에 불과해, 목표 지점까지 도달하는데 이틀이 걸렸습니다.
The explanation for the North Korean submarine torpedo launch was even more unclear explanation for the torpedo itself. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, the North Korean Yono-class submarine departed from its North Korean base and took a route through international waters that stretched about 310 kilometers in length. A member of the Joint Investigation Group told Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon that the submarine’s speed, at 5 kilometers per hour, meant that the journey took 2 days.
35. 전문가들은 천안함 사건을 미 해군의 아이오와함 사건과 비교하곤 합니다. 1989년 4월, 아이오와함 선체의 포탑에서 의문의 폭발이 일어나 47명의 수병이 사망하는 사건이 발생합니다. 해군은 조사 3개월 만에 동성애자인 포병 클레이튼 하트윅이 고의적으로 뇌관을 건드려 폭발이 일어났다고 발표했습니다.
Some experts have drawn parallels between the Cheonan incident and the explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa.
On April 19, 1989, the gun turret in the central gun room of the ship exploded, killing 47 of the turret’s crewmembers. After a 3-month investigation, the U.S. Navy concluded that Clayton Hartwig, a crewmember, had intentionally caused the explosion. News media at the time published stories focusing on a concocted failed romantic relationship with another male crewmember in citing the criminal reasons for his actions.
35-1. 그러나 미 의회는 조사결과를 신뢰하지 않았습니다. 해군은 사고 직후 현장을 제대로 보존조차 하지 않았습니다. 의회는 독립기관인 샌디아 연구소에 조사를 의뢰했고, 2년에 가까운 재조사 끝에 하트윅의 유족은 군으로부터 사과를 받아냈습니다.
The United States Senate, however, criticized the results of the investigation. The Senate discovered that the Navy had failed to even properly preserve the site of the incident. They decided to open a reinvestigation and assigned the task to Sandia Laboratories, as an independent scientific study. After an investigation lasting nearly 2 years, the Navy admitted to their mistakes and apologized to Hartwig’s family.
36. 천안함의 경우도 조사 주체와 기간에 대해 외부는 물론 합조단 내부에서도 비판의 목소리가 나오고 있습니다.
There has also been criticism from within and outside the Joint Investigation Group.
37. 천안함 이후 한미는 대규모 해상군사훈련을 강행했습니다. 중국과 북한도 군사훈련과 해안포 사격으로 맞섰습니다.
After the sinking of the Cheonan, the United States and South Korea launched large-scale joint military exercises on the seas surrounding the Korean peninsula. As tensions escalated, China’ Navy responded with their own military exercises, and North Korea fired artillery into the West Sea.
38. 한국의 대미의존외교는 심각한 부작용을 일으켰고, 북한은 급속도로 중국 영향권으로 편입될 조짐을 보이고 있습니다.
South Korea’s foreign policy has now become latched onto dependency on the United States, and as a consequence, North Korea’s dependency on China is rising quickly.
39. 천안함 침몰의 원인이 무엇인지는 명확치 않습니다. 그러나 조사과정과 정보공개가 부실했다는 것은 명확합니다. 이 부실한 조사에 한반도의 운명을 맡기기에는 오늘 우리의 상황이 너무 엄혹합니다.
Who or what was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan? As of now, there is no definitive answer. But one thing is clear. The investigation of the sinking was incomplete, lacking in transparency, and even subject to political manipulation. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is far too critical to base far-reaching policy decisions on such a flawed investigation.
Now a Japanese transolation of the script is available. 日本語訳ができました。こちらをご覧ください。Please see this LINK.
韓国のニュースサイト、ハンギョレ新聞のビデオ部門が天安艦沈没事件の合同調査団「公式調査結果」の疑問、矛盾点、ロシアの調査団の見解等を、数々の証言とともにわかりやすく映像で、まとめています。大変重要な映像です。どうか広めてください。下記、英語版と韓国語版のビデオリンクです。日本語は今のところありません。日本語では、ハンギョレ日本語版で、最近韓国で出版された本『封印された天安艦の真実』が紹介されており、このビデオが語る内容と重なるのでどうぞ読んでください。ここです。
충격파, CCTV, 연어급 잠수정, 1번 어뢰, 해안 초병의 증언... 9월 13일 천안함 민군합동조사단의 발표에도 불구하고 숱한 의문들이 해소되지 않은 채 남아 있다. 취재진은 그간 알려지지 않은 의문들을 심층 취재 했다. See below for the video in Korean.
Please see the English version of this important video, shared by No Base Stories of Korea blog. By Hani TV, November 11, 2010. It reveals all the flaws and contradiction of the findings of Joint Investigation Group of the sinking of South Korean warship Cheonan on March 26. The original Korean version was released on September 13. Both video are embedded below.
Here is Hankyoreh's report.
HaniTV, the video production component of the Hankyoreh, released an English language version of their Cheonan documentary entitled, “Beneath the Surface: the Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan,” on Nov. 12. HaniTV reporters have worked in conjunction with National Assembly lawmakers, salvage experts, scientists, and members of civic organizations to conduct a deeper exploration into the South Korean government-led Civilian-Military Joint Investigation Group’s (JIG) final report on the sinking of the Cheonan.
The 24-minute documentary primarily explores scientific aspects of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan, finding significant flaws in the evidence presented by JIG and referring to the findings of the Russian investigation group.
The film also frames the ship’s sinking in a political context, and contends that tensions between the South Korea-U.S. and North Korea-China alliances in addition to the June 2 local elections were both factors in the rush to release the JIG’s findings, after a short two-month investigation.
The documentary has been posted on YouTube, the HaniTV and the English Hani website (right column), and can be found at:
youtube.com/watch?v=SDITkTEDVNA
hanitv.com/sisa/sub_index.php?depth1_idx=4
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]
For the past articles and reports on this issue on Peace Philosophy Centre's blog, please see this LINK.
Spread the word!
Here is the English version
Here is Korean .
0. 2010년 3월 26일 밤. 천안함의 승조원들은 닥쳐올 비극을 모른 채 평온한 일상을 보내고 있었습니다. 우리는 이날 밤 그들이 죽음을 맞은 이유에 대해 명확히 알고 있지 못합니다.
On the night of March 26th, crewmembers of the South Korean naval warship Cheonan wrapped up an ordinary day, unaware of the tragedy on the horizon. Those were the last known moments of the ship, and the reason for the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
1. 그들이 탄 배는 남북이 대치한 백령도 인근에서 침몰했습니다. 함수와 함미가 인양된 뒤 본격적인 조사에 착수한 민군합동조사단은, 5월 20일 천안함을 침몰시킨 범인으로 북한을 지목했습니다. 사건이 일어난지 두달도 안된 시점이었고, 6.2 지자체 선거운동 개시일이었습니다.
The Cheonan, a patrol combat corvette, sank southwest of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The South Korean government put together a Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group that included representatives from the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Australia and launched a full-scale investigation after salvaging the sunken vessel. On May 20th, the investigation group released their findings and pointed to North Korea as the culprit. The day fell just 2 months after the accident, and also coincided with the official launch of the June 2 municipal elections campaign season.
2. 합조단의 결론은 이렇습니다. 백령도 서쪽에서 경비 중이던 천안함은, 9시 22분경 한미 해군 레이더망을 피해 잠입한 북한 잠수정에 의해 기습당합니다. 이 연어급 잠수정이 쏜 중어뢰가 천안함 가스터빈실 아래에서 폭발해 버블효과 물기둥을 일으켰고, 천안함의 허리를 쪼갰다는 것입니다. 그러나 합조단의 결론은 곧바로 숱한 논란을 일으켰습니다.
The investigation team put together its narrative of what happened that night. The Cheonan, while guarding the west coast of the Baengnyeong [백령] Island, was ambushed by a North Korean Yono-class submarine that had penetrated deep into the West Sea, where a joint U.S.-South Korean military drill had taken place earlier that evening. The submarine launched a heavy torpedo, which exploded just below the midsection of the ship, splitting the warship in two. Their conclusion, however, has remained the subject of intense controversy.
13. 취재진이 단독 입수한 러시아 조사단 보고서 요약본에 따르면, 러시아 조사단은 사건 원인과 시간에 대해 한국 측 조사 결과가 들어맞지 않는다고 결론지었습니다. 러시아 조사단은 천안함이 기뢰에 의해 침몰됐을 가능성을 제기했고, 그 이전에 수심이 낮은 해역에서 1차적 사고를 당했다고 봤습니다. 즉, 사고가 두 번 있었다는 것입니다.
Hankyoreh journalists obtained an exclusive copy of the Korean abstract of the report entitled “Data from the Russian Naval Expert Group’s Investigation into the Cause of Sinking of the South Korean Naval Vessel Cheonan.”
The report was a marked contrast to the Joint Investigation Group’s findings. The Russian team concluded that it was not a torpedo, but a floating mine in the water that was responsible for the ship’s sinking, and that before the explosion, the ship had run aground in shallow water. In other words, they believed that two accidents occurred before the sinking.
14. 이와 관련해 도널드 그레그 전 주한미국대사는 뉴욕타임스 인터넷판과 인터내셔널해럴드트리뷴에 흥미로운 글을 기고했습니다. 러시아 고위 인사에게 왜 자국 조사 결과를 공개하지 않느냐고 물어봤더니, 그 조사 결과가 이명박 정권에 큰 정치적 타격을 주고 오바마 행정부를 당황하게 할 수 있기 때문이라고 대답했다는 것입니다.
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Donald Gregg referred to the Russian Naval Experts’ theory in an Op-ed in the International Herald Tribune on August 31st.
Gregg said, “When I asked a well-placed Russian friend why the report has not been made public, he replied, ‘Because it would do much political damage to President Lee Myung-bak and would embarrass President Obama.’”
15. 러시아 조사단은 스크루에 엉켜 있는 어선 그물의 존재를 환기시키고 폭발이 일어나기 전에 천안함이 해저면에 닿아 스크루가 훼손됐다고 설명합니다. 즉 천안함이 직면한 1차적 사고는 좌초 혹은 그와 유사한 상황이라는 것입니다. 30년 간 해난 구조 작업을 해 온 이종인씨는 천안함 사건의 원인이 좌초라고 주장해 왔습니다.
The Russian team’s report states the vessel’s propeller became entangled in a fishing net as it was sailing through shallow waters off the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. The ship likely ran aground, and it was this occurrence that was the first cause of the sinking.
Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation specializing in ship wreckage recovery, with over 30 years of salvaging experience, has strongly stressed in his opinions that the ship wreckage points to the fact that the ship had run aground, not that an explosion had occurred.
16. 이 그래픽은 사고 당일 밤 아홉시부터 사고 순간까지 천안함의 항적에 대해, 군과 전문가의 설명을 바탕으로 재구성해본 것입니다. 군의 공식 폭발원점은 수심이 45미터가 넘어 좌초의 여지가 없습니다.
그러나 천안함의 좌초 가능성과 관련해 주목할만한 진술이 있습니다. 바로 백령도 해안 박아무개 초병의 자필 진술서입니다. 그는 당시 섬광을 목격했다는 김 아무개 초병과 함께 초소에 있었습니다.
This computer graphic tracks the ship’s path from 9:00p.m. on March 26th to the moment of the incident. The military stated that the water level at the site of the sinking was more than 45 meters, which meant the ship had no chance of running aground. However, others also gave significant statements about these claims.
This is the handwritten statement of a marine stationed on the coast of Baengnyeong [백령] Island. He is one of the two guards who spotted the white flash when the incident happened.
17. 그 역시 섬광을 목격했다고 진술했습니다. 그런데 그는 섬광이 두 개 였으며 오른쪽 섬광은 두무진 돌출부에 의해 가려져 잘 보이지 않았다고 합니다.
그가 섬광을 봤다고 지목한 지점은 두무진 끝자락이고 군의 공식 폭발 원점과는 상당한 거리가 있습니다. 게다가 수심이 얕아 좌초 가능성이 있는 지역입니다. 군의 공식 폭발 원점은 탁트인 바다라 불빛이 가려질 여지가 없습니다.
The guard talked about the white flash. He said there were two flashes, and the one on the right was partially blocked by Doomujin spur, a large projection of land located unmistakably northwest from the guard’s watch station. The Joint Investigation Group, however, designated the location of the sinking as southwest, an entirely different direction. Shallow waters are located next to Doomujin spur, maintaining the possibility that the ship ran aground. Guards at the watch station have an unobstructed view, leaving little chance that the guard misidentified the area.
18. 그의 다음 진술은 더 놀랍습니다. 그는 밤 9시30분경, 초소 기준 180도 방향으로 3km 떨어진 지점에서, 해군함이 좌초된 초계함을 구조했다는 것입니다. 이 지점은 수심이 얕은 해안 인접 지역입니다. 게다가 좌초라고 쓰고 있습니다.
The guard’s next statement was even more surprising. At 9:30 that night, 180 degrees and 3 kilometers due south of the post, he spotted a navy vessel rescuing the stranded patrol combat corvette, the Cheonan. He said that the site was close to the coast, and in shallow waters. The guard referred to the ship as “having run aground.”
19. 이에 최문순 의원과 기자들은 알파 잠수 이종인 대표의 도움을 받아 이 지점에 대한 해안 조사를 벌였습니다. 그 결과, 해도 상에는 존재하지 않는 여러 암초와 사구의 존재를 확인할 수 있었습니다.
National Assembly Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon of the main opposition Democratic Party investigated the site with several reporters, including HaniTV. At the investigation site, they discovered reefs and sand dunes under the sea that were not marked on the map.
20. 러시아 조사단은 또 사고 시간과 관련해 뜻밖의 사실을 알려줍니다. 천안함 내부에 설치돼 있던 CCTV의 마지막 촬영 시간이 군 발표와 달리 9시17분이라는 겁니다.
군은 CCTV가 전류가 끊기기 1분 전까지 녹화되도록 설정되었으며, 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분이므로 군의 공식 사고 시각 9시22분과 일치한다고 발표했습니다. 때문에 CCTV 시간은 군의 주장을 뒷받침해주는 중요한 근거였습니다.
The report by the team of Russian experts mentioned another important factor previously unknown by the public. The last time recorded by the ship’s CCTV was 9:17 p.m. Military authorities previously reported the last time recorded as 9:21 p.m. CCTV recording systems record images one minute after they occur, meaning the time code would register the incident as 9:22p.m. The CCTV’s recorded time served as important evidence in relation to the time of the incident.
21. 마지막 촬영 시간이 21분인지 17분인지는 CCTV 동영상에 찍혀 있는 시간을 보면 알수 있습니다. 대부분의 CCTV는 상황이 벌어진 시각을 정확히 알수 있도록 화면 어딘가에 정확한 현재 시각이 찍혀 나오도록 돼 있습니다. 그런데 군이 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 제공한 CCTV 화면 스틸을 보면 어디에도 시간은 찍혀 있지 않습니다.
The time recorded is easy to spot on the CCTV screen. Most CCTVs have a precise time code on the screen, so the time that the camera recorded the image is both clear and visible. However, in the images submitted to the National Assembly’s special committee, the time code is missing.
22. 군 역시 CCTV 화면에 찍혀 있는 마지막 시간이 17분이라는 점은 인정했습니다. 그렇다면 군 설명대로 CCTV가 실제 시간과 오차가 날수 있는 것인지 전문가에게 물어봤습니다.
Authorities stated that the last time recorded on the CCTV footage was 9:17 p.m. We contacted a CCTV expert to find out if their explanation was plausible.
23. 미스테리는 이뿐이 아닙니다. CCTV 시간은 각기 다른 시간대에 끊겼으며 빠른 것은 13분에 끊긴 것도 있습니다.
The controversy went further. All of the cameras shut down at different times, and some of them even stopped at 9:13 p.m., at least 8 minutes earlier than the time recorded.
24. 또한, 군은 당초 천안함에 설치한 11대의 CCTV 가운데 여섯 대만 부분 복원에 성공했다고 밝혔습니다. 그러나 천안함 CCTV 복원을 맡은 업체의 말은 다릅니다.
Military sources also did not release all of the footage. They announced that only 6 of the 11 cameras were restored, but the company responsible for the restoration gave a different statement.
25. 군은 국회 천안함 특위 위원들에게 이 스틸을 CCTV의 마지막 장면으로 제시하면서, 장병들이 운동을 하는 등 평온한 상태였다고 전하고 있습니다.
The military released these pictures as the last scenes captured by the CCTV footage. Here, sailors go about their daily routines, including exercise aboard the ship.
그런데 화면 속에서 순찰을 돌며 다섯 곳에 등장한 A 하사의 시신은 함미가 아닌 함수쪽 자이로실에서 나왔습니다. 스틸 속에서 A 하사는 얼룩무늬 군복을 입고 있습니다. 그러나 시신은 검은색 동절기 근무복을 입은 채 발견됐습니다. 스틸 속 장면과 사망 순간 사이에 일정 시간 간격이 있음을 알 수 있습니다.
This is the body of the officer found on the bow of the ship, which was broken in two. However, of the footage from the final moments of the ship that show him patrolling, all five sets of footage were located not in the bow, but in the ship’s stern. The officer wears a camouflage uniform in the video, but his body was recovered wearing a black winter uniform. These facts point to the fact that this footage was not taken from the last moments before the ship sank.
디젤기관실에서 근무하던 두 하사의 시신은 각기 다른 곳에서 나왔습니다. 한명은 그대로 디젤기관실에서 발견된 반면, 다른 한명은 승조원 식당에서 발견됐습니다.
Here, two officers work in the diesel engine room. Both would become fatalities of the incident. The body of one officer was discovered in the same room, but the body of the other was discovered in the crew cafeteria.
군은 이 장면이 CCTV에 찍힌 마지막 장면이라고 하면서도 녹화 시간을 뺏습니다. 우리는 이 장면이 실제 천안함의 마지막 순간인지 아니면 9시13분에서 17분의 상황인지 알 수 없습니다. 또한 이 장면 이후 어떤 상황이 발생한 것은 아닌지도 알 수 없습니다.
The military declared that this was the last footage recorded aboard the ship, but the time code has disappeared from the footage. This could very well be footage of the ship’s last moments, just as the military explained, but some believe it could also be the time between 9:13 and 9:17. What happened on the ship between these moments and the ship’s sinking remains unknown.
공교롭게도 이 13분에서 17분은 엠비씨가 공개한 바 있는 해군 및 해경 상황일지의 최초 상황발생 보고 시간과 비슷한 시간대입니다.
Strangely, the time code on the CCTV recordings disappears right around the time of the incident, reported by the South Korean navy and maritime police to superiors a few days after the incident. The times were later disclosed by a television reporter.
25-1. 9시22분 전에 다른 상황이 있었다면 아무 이상이 없었던 천안함이 어뢰 공격으로 일격에 침몰됐다는 군의 발표는 설득력을 잃어버립니다. 어뢰 공격의 직접 증거인 1번 어뢰는 끝없는 의혹을 받아 왔습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded that a torpedo from a North Korean submarine struck the ship, and stated that there were no circumstances prior to 9:22 p.m. that were out of the ordinary. unaware that the situation reported before the attack was not out of the ordinary. If any irregular situation transpired before 9:22 p.m., then this “surprise attack theory” should be reconsidered. In fact, the fragments of torpedo No. 1, the Joint Investigation Group’s “smoking gun,” have been contested by experts since they were first introduced to the public on May 20th.
26. 게다가 어뢰를 발견했다는 폭발원점 인근에서 정밀한 수색이 가능했는지도 의문입니다.
Questions remain about whether such a precise search was possible in the location where a trawler discovered the torpedo fragments.
26-1. 최문순 의원과 기자들은 공식 폭발원점 근처 해역을 조사하다가 2000톤급의 침몰선을 발견했습니다.
Lawmaker Choi and reporters discovered a 2,000 ton sunken vessel near the site of the during their investigation.
27. 합조단은 이 침몰선이 일제시대의 상선으로 추정된다며, 그 존재를 사건 초기부터 알고 있었다고 말합니다. 천안함과의 연관성이 없는 것으로 판단해 공개하지 않았다는 것입니다. 전문가들은 그러나 이 정도로 큰 침몰선이 해당 해역에 잠겨 있었다면 1번 어뢰를 수거하는 것은 불가능에 가까운 일이라고 합니다.
The Joint Investigation Group said that they believed the vessel was a merchant ship that had sunk over 60 years ago. They were already aware of the ship before the team led by Lawmaker Choi discovered it, but decided not to announce it, because it was unrelated to the Cheonan.
Salvage experts, however, say its presence is significant in regards to the “No. 1” torpedo fragments uncovered by a trawler.
28. 조류와 수심을 고려할 때 쌍끌이 어선의 그물 길이가 300미터가 넘어야만 쌍끌이 어선 운용이 가능하며, 이 경우 침몰선을 피해 다니며 정밀 수색한다는 것은 힘들다는 것입니다.
Salvage expert Lee Jong-in says that a trawl net must be more than 300 meters away from the ship to operate. The fragments of the No. 1 torpedo were discovered within 300 meters of the sunken vessel, meaning that it would have been nearly impossible for the trawler to uncover the fragments while avoiding wreckage from large vessels.
29. 러시아 조사단도 이 증거물이 6개월 이상 수중에 있었던 것으로 보인다며 증거 능력에 회의를 나타냈습니다. 그러나 무엇보다도 어뢰 폭발로 설명이 안되는 부분은 바로 충격파입니다.
수중에서 폭발이 일어나면 먼저 충격파가 물을 타고 구형으로 전파됩니다. 이후 가스버블이 팽창과 수축을 거쳐 수면에 도달하게 되면 강력한 물기둥으로 솟구치게 됩니다.
선체를 직접 타격하는 버블제트 물기둥에 대해서는 그동안 많이 알려져 왔습니다.
The Russian team also cast doubt on the “No. 1” torpedo. They deduced that it had been underwater for more than 6 months, far longer than the Joint Investigation Group’s estimation at 2 months. Moreover, the part of the torpedo theory they simply could not explain away was the shock wave that split the ship in two.
When a torpedo explodes in the water, the primary impact is a shock wave, which spreads through the water in the shape of a sphere, also called a bubble jet. The water pillar produced by the bubble jet is the second effect of the explosion.
The Joint Investigation Group explained that the water column was the main cause of the ship’s split, and was therefore highly publicized.
29-1. 그러나 실제 폭발 에너지의 53퍼센트를 차지하는 것은 바로 이 충격파입니다. 국내의 한 연구원은 이 충격파가 중력가속도의 열여덟배, 즉 18G를 넘어가게 되면 머리의 인체 안정성을 확보할수 없다고 말합니다.
The shock wave employs 53 percent of the explosion’s energy. One expert that spoke on the condition of anonymity said that if the shockwave is 18 times stronger than “G,” the acceleration of gravity, the human body is unable to resist damage. Experts at NASA also support this finding.
30. 합조단은 그동안 천안함의 경우 TNT 이삼백 키로 규모의 수중 폭발의 영향을 받았다고 주장해 왔습니다. 그 영향에 대한 전문가의 의견은 이렇습니다.
The Joint Investigation Group concluded from calculations that the explosion that split the Cheonan was equal to 200-300 kilograms of TNT. Expert Shin Yong-shik, a member of the Joint Investigation Group, says that when an explosion takes place, the following would result.
31. 이 장면은 사건 발생 13일만인 4월 7일, 국군수도병원에서 기자회견 자리에 선 천안함 생존자들의 모습입니다. 일부를 제외하곤 대부분 큰 부상없이 멀쩡합니다. 이들이 100G의 충격을 받은 것으로는 보이지 않습니다.
사망자들 역시 마찬가지입니다. 국립과학수사연구소는 천안함 사망자들의 사체를 검안한 결과, 일부 골절이 있지만 사인은 전부 익사인 것으로 추정된다고 밝혔습니다.
This footage shows the Cheonan survivors 2 weeks after the incident. With the exception of two to three crew members, they show little evidence of injuries, and could not have sustained the 100G impact.
The bodies of the deceased crewmembers are also nearly identical. The National Institute of Scientific Investigation, which conducted autopsies of the bodies, concluded that although some of them sustained bone fractures, the cause of death, without exception, was drowning.
32. 게다가 1번 어뢰의 실제 폭발량은 그간의 설명보다 훨씬 강력한 것으로 드러났습니다. 천안함에서는 티앤티 외에도 HMX와 RDX라는 고성능 폭약이 검출됐는데, 흔히 이런 폭약을 혼합해 훨씬 강력한 폭발 효과를 낸다고 합니다.
The explosive power of the “No. 1” torpedo was in fact stronger than indicated on the Joint Investigation Group’s final report. The Joint Investigation Group detected HMX and RDX on the ship, both highly powerful explosives in comparison to TNT. This means that if the torpedo exploded beneath the ship, the crew members would have sustained serious injuries.
33. 5월 20일 발표 이후 3개월간 합조단은 시뮬레이션 결과 TNT 이삼백키로 규모 폭발시 천안함과 유사한 손상이 발생한다고 주장해 왔습니다. 백령도 인근에서 발생한 지진파의 세기도 TNT로 환산하면 250키로 규모로 파악돼 1번 어뢰의 폭발량과 일치한다고도 했습니다. 그러나 전문가들의 의견을 종합할 때 1번 어뢰의 폭발량을 TNT로 환산하면 350에서 500키로 규모가 되므로, 합조단의 설명은 심각한 오류에 빠집니다.
After the interim announcement on May 20th, the Joint Investigation Group maintained that the scale of the explosion was between 200 and 300 kilograms of TNT. This was consistent with the seismic wave produced around Baengnyeong Island at the time of the incident. However, the final compiled data from the Joint Investigation Group’s team of experts revealed that the scale of the explosion was in fact between 350 and 500 kilograms of TNT. This did not match the seismic wave measured at the time, meaning the Joint Investigation Group’s contained significant inconsistencies.
33-1. 합조단 역시 이런 오류를 인식했는지 9월13일 낸 최종 보고서를 통해 3개월 넘도록 유지해왔던 설명을 뒤집었습니다. 다시 시뮬레이션 해 보니 TNT 360키로 규모가 맞다는 것입니다. 그러나 지진파의 크기와의 불일치는 명쾌히 설명하지 못했습니다. 지진파는 합조단이 그동안 사고 장소와 시간을 특정하는 근거로 사용돼 왔습니다.
On September 13, the Joint Investigation Group admitted its mistake and altered the scale of the explosion. They said that an explosion of 350 kilograms of TNT fit the rest of their data when they altered the simulation. Unsurprisingly, they could not give a clear explanation about the mismatch with the seismic wave data. The Joint Investigation Group presented the seismic wave data as strong evidence for the time and location of the incident.
34. 그 어뢰를 쐈다는 북한의 연어급 잠수정에 대해서도 설명이 명쾌하지 않습니다. 군의 설명에 따르면 이 잠수정은 기지에서 사고 지점까지 디귿자 모양으로 310키로미터를 이동해 왔습니다. 이 잠수정의 속도는 시속 5키로에 불과해, 목표 지점까지 도달하는데 이틀이 걸렸습니다.
The explanation for the North Korean submarine torpedo launch was even more unclear explanation for the torpedo itself. According to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense, the North Korean Yono-class submarine departed from its North Korean base and took a route through international waters that stretched about 310 kilometers in length. A member of the Joint Investigation Group told Lawmaker Choi Moon-soon that the submarine’s speed, at 5 kilometers per hour, meant that the journey took 2 days.
35. 전문가들은 천안함 사건을 미 해군의 아이오와함 사건과 비교하곤 합니다. 1989년 4월, 아이오와함 선체의 포탑에서 의문의 폭발이 일어나 47명의 수병이 사망하는 사건이 발생합니다. 해군은 조사 3개월 만에 동성애자인 포병 클레이튼 하트윅이 고의적으로 뇌관을 건드려 폭발이 일어났다고 발표했습니다.
Some experts have drawn parallels between the Cheonan incident and the explosion aboard the U.S.S. Iowa.
On April 19, 1989, the gun turret in the central gun room of the ship exploded, killing 47 of the turret’s crewmembers. After a 3-month investigation, the U.S. Navy concluded that Clayton Hartwig, a crewmember, had intentionally caused the explosion. News media at the time published stories focusing on a concocted failed romantic relationship with another male crewmember in citing the criminal reasons for his actions.
35-1. 그러나 미 의회는 조사결과를 신뢰하지 않았습니다. 해군은 사고 직후 현장을 제대로 보존조차 하지 않았습니다. 의회는 독립기관인 샌디아 연구소에 조사를 의뢰했고, 2년에 가까운 재조사 끝에 하트윅의 유족은 군으로부터 사과를 받아냈습니다.
The United States Senate, however, criticized the results of the investigation. The Senate discovered that the Navy had failed to even properly preserve the site of the incident. They decided to open a reinvestigation and assigned the task to Sandia Laboratories, as an independent scientific study. After an investigation lasting nearly 2 years, the Navy admitted to their mistakes and apologized to Hartwig’s family.
36. 천안함의 경우도 조사 주체와 기간에 대해 외부는 물론 합조단 내부에서도 비판의 목소리가 나오고 있습니다.
There has also been criticism from within and outside the Joint Investigation Group.
37. 천안함 이후 한미는 대규모 해상군사훈련을 강행했습니다. 중국과 북한도 군사훈련과 해안포 사격으로 맞섰습니다.
After the sinking of the Cheonan, the United States and South Korea launched large-scale joint military exercises on the seas surrounding the Korean peninsula. As tensions escalated, China’ Navy responded with their own military exercises, and North Korea fired artillery into the West Sea.
38. 한국의 대미의존외교는 심각한 부작용을 일으켰고, 북한은 급속도로 중국 영향권으로 편입될 조짐을 보이고 있습니다.
South Korea’s foreign policy has now become latched onto dependency on the United States, and as a consequence, North Korea’s dependency on China is rising quickly.
39. 천안함 침몰의 원인이 무엇인지는 명확치 않습니다. 그러나 조사과정과 정보공개가 부실했다는 것은 명확합니다. 이 부실한 조사에 한반도의 운명을 맡기기에는 오늘 우리의 상황이 너무 엄혹합니다.
Who or what was responsible for the sinking of the Cheonan? As of now, there is no definitive answer. But one thing is clear. The investigation of the sinking was incomplete, lacking in transparency, and even subject to political manipulation. The situation on the Korean Peninsula is far too critical to base far-reaching policy decisions on such a flawed investigation.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Today's Vancouver Sun バンクーバー・サン紙より
Related to the previous post, here is an excerpt from today's Vancouver Sun - Jonathan Manthorpe's Asia-Pacific Report, " South Korean president's proposal for unification tax raises eyebrows."
We will see what this "most of a 400-page report" to be published within a few days will prove.
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The South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan sank with the loss of 46 sailors. Seoul swiftly blamed Pyongyang, saying a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine sank the ship.
As a result, Lee's administration in the South has cut off almost all remaining economic and diplomatic ties with the North.
Pyongyang has reacted to both Lee's curbing of bilateral relations and his accusations over the sinking of the Cheonan with the overblown rhetoric and threats it always employs on these occasions.
More of the same can be expected in the next few days when Lee's government in Seoul is due to publish most of a 400-page report on the sinking.
Publication of the report is an attempt to counter a good deal of skepticism about the purported findings of two inquiries into the sinking and the role of much-touted "international experts."
The international judgment that Lee has failed to provide conclusive evidence of North Korea's guilt in the sinking of the ship is well illustrated by the United Nations' refusal to impose the new sanctions on Pyongyang that Seoul wanted.
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To read the full article, go to:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/South+Korean+president+proposal+unification+raises+eyebrows/3430617/story.html
We will see what this "most of a 400-page report" to be published within a few days will prove.
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The South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan sank with the loss of 46 sailors. Seoul swiftly blamed Pyongyang, saying a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine sank the ship.
As a result, Lee's administration in the South has cut off almost all remaining economic and diplomatic ties with the North.
Pyongyang has reacted to both Lee's curbing of bilateral relations and his accusations over the sinking of the Cheonan with the overblown rhetoric and threats it always employs on these occasions.
More of the same can be expected in the next few days when Lee's government in Seoul is due to publish most of a 400-page report on the sinking.
Publication of the report is an attempt to counter a good deal of skepticism about the purported findings of two inquiries into the sinking and the role of much-touted "international experts."
The international judgment that Lee has failed to provide conclusive evidence of North Korea's guilt in the sinking of the ship is well illustrated by the United Nations' refusal to impose the new sanctions on Pyongyang that Seoul wanted.
*********************************************
To read the full article, go to:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/South+Korean+president+proposal+unification+raises+eyebrows/3430617/story.html
Friday, August 20, 2010
Yoshio SHIMOJI: Making big deal out of Cheonan Sinking
Photo from the related article by Jonathan Manthorpe, Vancouver Sun, June 18, 2010.
An unpublished letter to The Japan Times:
By Shimoji Yoshio
August 11, 2010
Making big deal out of Cheonan sinking
To show off power to North Korea over the South Korean corvette's sinking incident, the U.S. and South Korea began a series of massive joint military exercises, code-named Invincible Spirit, after delays and revisions.
But, first of all, is the premise correct and irrefutable that the corvette Cheonan's sinking was caused by North Korean mini-submarine's torpedoing?
Even to a layman's eyes, there are so many moot questions that need clearer explanations albeit Seoul's and Washington's claim that the investigation was carried out by an international team scientifically and objectively.
Dr. Seunghun Lee, a professor of solid state physics at the University of Virginia, and Dr. J. J. Suh, an associate professor of international politics at Johns Hopkins University, himself with a physicist background, point out in their coauthored paper that the final report announced by the
Li Myung-bak government is imbued with fabrications and concoctions. Both submitted their opinion to the U.N. security council.
The war games are said to involve 8,000 service members, more than 20 warships and submarines including the nuclear-powered carrier George Washington, plus 200 aircraft.
What's the real purpose of these overblown war games? Does Washington want the East Asia region ever so volatile so that it can keep its bases in Japan, especially in Okinawa, as securely and indefinitely as possible? Naturally, Washington's adamant demand that the Futenma Air Station be moved within Okinawa can be construed in this unspoken context.
Yoshio Shimoji
Naha, Okinawa
Japan
For more articles on this blog by Yoshio Shimoji, see HERE.
See Shimoji's article in Japan Focus, "The Futenma Base and the U.S.-Japan Controversy: an Okinawan perspective."
For more information and articles on the questions surrounding the official investigation result of the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, see this link.
An unpublished letter to The Japan Times:By Shimoji Yoshio
August 11, 2010
Making big deal out of Cheonan sinking
To show off power to North Korea over the South Korean corvette's sinking incident, the U.S. and South Korea began a series of massive joint military exercises, code-named Invincible Spirit, after delays and revisions.
But, first of all, is the premise correct and irrefutable that the corvette Cheonan's sinking was caused by North Korean mini-submarine's torpedoing?
Even to a layman's eyes, there are so many moot questions that need clearer explanations albeit Seoul's and Washington's claim that the investigation was carried out by an international team scientifically and objectively.
Dr. Seunghun Lee, a professor of solid state physics at the University of Virginia, and Dr. J. J. Suh, an associate professor of international politics at Johns Hopkins University, himself with a physicist background, point out in their coauthored paper that the final report announced by the
Li Myung-bak government is imbued with fabrications and concoctions. Both submitted their opinion to the U.N. security council.
The war games are said to involve 8,000 service members, more than 20 warships and submarines including the nuclear-powered carrier George Washington, plus 200 aircraft.
What's the real purpose of these overblown war games? Does Washington want the East Asia region ever so volatile so that it can keep its bases in Japan, especially in Okinawa, as securely and indefinitely as possible? Naturally, Washington's adamant demand that the Futenma Air Station be moved within Okinawa can be construed in this unspoken context.
Yoshio Shimoji
Naha, Okinawa
Japan
For more articles on this blog by Yoshio Shimoji, see HERE.
See Shimoji's article in Japan Focus, "The Futenma Base and the U.S.-Japan Controversy: an Okinawan perspective."
For more information and articles on the questions surrounding the official investigation result of the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan, see this link.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Information about Cheonan Sinking in Japanese 天安艦沈没事件についての日本語情報
Some updated information about the Cheonan Sinking in Japanese. For English articles about the issue, see Vancouver Sun's article by Jonathan Manthorpe and the collection of related material on this blog.
天安艦沈没事件をめぐっての最近の日本語情報をリンクします。
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天安艦沈没をめぐる１０の真実 （日朝ネットより）
2010，7，4 日朝ネット作成
１、5月20日に軍民合同調査団が北朝鮮関与の決定的証拠として発表した内容に重大なウソ・疑惑が噴出している。
① 北朝鮮の魚雷設計図と示されたものが発見された魚雷とは別の機種であることを調査団は認めた。15日に魚雷推進体を発見し20日の発表に間に合わせるため無理をして間違えたと釈明。（6/29）しかもいまだに設計図の出典は隠されている。
② 素人でも疑問を持つ魚雷推進体の腐食状態について調査団は当初「科学的な分析で１～２か月と判明」と説明していたが、「肉眼で判断した」と修正した。（6/29）
③軍民合同調査団はペクリョン島の哨兵の証言をもとに「水中爆発によるバブルジェットが天安艦を真っ二つにした」と主張しているが、韓国国会の天安艦真相調査特別委の野党議員は国政調査権を使って、「水柱（バブルジェット）は見なかった」という 哨兵の陳述書を明らかにしている。(7/1)
２、真相究明に一番大切な１次資料が、ほとんど公開されていない。
天安艦長をはじめとする生存者や監視役の哨兵の証言が明らかにされず、メディア関係者は接触できない状況に置かれている。天安艦の切断面など基礎資料も公開されていない。一方で韓国軍が自分たちに都合の悪い一次資料を修正して公表したことを認めている。
例えば軍がしぶしぶ公開したTOD（熱映像観測装置）の映像については、いまだに事件前の２１時２分から艦首と艦尾が分離した２１時２２分までの核心部分の映像が隠されたままである。すでにこのTOD映像については、国防長官が編集を指示した事実を認めている。また、韓国メディア(統一ニュース7/1)が入手した海軍作戦司令部の状況報告では、「２１時１５分に天安艦が原因未詳(爆発音聴取)で浸水した」と報告している。しかしこの海軍報告を合同参謀本部が２１時４５分に修正し、爆発音聴取などを削除して公表した疑惑が持たれている。合同参謀本部議長はすでに、事件当時の泥酔や虚偽報告を認めて辞任している。
３、韓国政府は合同調査団の内容に疑問を提起する言論を弾圧している。
「浅い砂地で座礁した後に米艦と衝突した海難事故」と主張する野党選出の軍民合同調査団員に対し、韓国政府は調査発表直後に名誉棄損で告発。今ではインターネット上で「北魚雷説はねつ造」と主張した高校生まで逮捕される状況になっている。 国連登録NGOが自国政府の国連報告に対して異論を唱えるのは国連ではよくあることだが、韓国参与連帯が6月11日に国連安保理に「国連安保理がすべての根拠と証拠を慎重に検討し、公正で合理的な決定をするよう求める」要請文を提出したことを韓国政府は、「国家保安法違反」と攻撃している。
４、韓国政府はもともと朝鮮の関与を疑っていなかった。
3月26日の事件当初、「北が直接攻撃した可能性は低い」（韓国大統領府報道官3/27）と発表し、事件後4日目に李大統領自ら沈没現場近くのペクリョン島を訪問して救出作業を激励している。しかしその後、遺族らが政府の危機回避への無策、救出活動の遅れを追求し、国民の批判が広がっていった。軍首脳23人と国防部高官2人がすでに事件時の泥酔や虚偽報告・職務放棄などを理由に処分されたが、そのトップである金国防長官が、早くから北の犯行説を流し、それをマスメディアが取り上げる中で政府としても北朝鮮犯行説を取るようになった。
５、韓国国会は６月２９日に北朝鮮を非難する決議を上げたが、韓国世論を代表するとは言えない。
韓国国会に設置された天安艦真相調査特別委員会は、与党ハンナラ党が開始を遅らせ、途中から欠席し、疑惑に蓋をしたまま終了。決議も強行採決によるものであり、 韓国内の世論を代表したとはとても言えない。６月２日の統一地方選挙の与党の敗北は、韓国民衆の「北朝鮮魚雷説を信じるが戦争はやめてほしいという意思」ではなく、「過去の独裁政権と同じように北朝鮮を悪者にして民衆の責任追及を逃れようとする政府への不信」とみるほうが妥当ではないか。
６、朝鮮民主主義人民共和国は、一貫して関与の事実を否定している。
5月20日の合同調査団の発表のわずか30分後に国防委員会報道官が「合同調査団の発表はでっち上げだ。内容を調査する検閲団を派遣する」との声明を発表した。その後も、具体的に調査団の発表の内容を批判し続けている。
７、ロシアも中国も真相の究明と冷静な対応を求めている
ロシア政府は専門家による独自の調査団を韓国に派遣し、7月1日時点ですでに報告書を作成したとされている。すでに駐韓ロシア大使は「（2000年に内部爆発で沈没した）ロシア原潜クルスク号の状況に似ている」と明らかにした。（6/17）メドジェーベフ大統領は「天安艦事件に関連して一方的な見解だけが広がっている。私たちはそのような見解をそのまま当然のことと受け入れてはいけない。事件に対する徹底した調査が必要だ」（6/18）と述べ、韓国側の調査結果に疑問を投げかけている。
中国政府も一貫して合同調査団の報告に疑問を投げかけ、関係国に冷静な対応を求めている。クリントン米国務長官が5月24日から25日に北京を訪問し説得を試みたと言 われているが、変わっていない。
８、韓国政府を全面的に支援してきた米政府も、距離を置き始めている。
米国務省報道担当次官補は、「北朝鮮が非難されている天安艦沈没は国際法違反行為ではなく、北朝鮮をテロ支援国家リストに入れることを正当化できない」と明らかにした。同時に「天安艦沈没は明らかな停戦協定違反であり、この問題を協議するために北朝鮮との協議を模索しているが北朝鮮が応じていない」「北朝鮮が近隣諸国との関係を改善し朝鮮半島の非核化のための積極的措置を講じることを望む。このような行動は停戦状態を解決し、半島の平和と安定を構築する環境を作る」と米朝協議に言及している。
９、G8サミットの声明でさえ、北朝鮮の関与を認めていない。
G8サミットの首脳宣言は、「軍民合同調査団の調査報告を支持し、その脈絡で我々は、 天安艦沈没をおこした攻撃を非難する。朝鮮民主主義人民共和国に対して韓国への攻撃や敵対的な行為慎むように求める。また、事件の責任所在究明のための韓国政府の努力を支持する。」と発表(6/26)。これを日本のマスコミは「北朝鮮を事実上非難」 (朝日)と報道したが、よく読めば朝鮮の事件への関与は認めていない。韓国のメディア は、ロシア代表団関係者が「調査結果は最終的なものとは見なされておらず、北朝鮮を非難することは否定的な結果につながる」と語ったと報道している。（聯合ニュース6/26） 調査報告の信憑性に問題が生じれば、この声明は当然効力を失う。
６月２７日に閉幕したG20サミットでは、採択された首脳宣言と議長声明では、天安艦 問題は全く触れられなかった。韓国は共同議長国として北朝鮮非難を盛り込んで国連安保理決議に向けた流れを作ろうとしたが、中国などの反対により実現しなかったと言われている。
１０、日本政府の好戦的対応は、冷静な対応を求める周辺国の中では突出している。マスメディアは事実すら伝えない。
日本政府は合同調査団の報告に一切の疑問を提起せず、G8サミットなどで韓国政府の立場を援護。この間の国会では、朝鮮の船舶に対して臨検を可能にする法案を成立させる（5/28）など独自の制裁を実施。マスメディアも、韓国国内で調査報告の真偽を めぐり与野党が激しく対立している事実すら伝えない。朝鮮バッシングがあたりまえの 体質に陥っている。
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以下は、バンクーバー九条の会 会長 落合栄一郎さんが７月３日、『日刊ベリタ』に書いたものです。
韓国哨戒艦沈没についての疑惑
先に（日刊ベリタ2010.06.23）、この事件についての韓国国内での民間からの疑問提出を韓国政府が躍起になって押さえつけようとする様が報告された。日本では、世界中でも最も早い時期に田中宇氏が非常に重大な疑問符を投げかけた（http://tanakanews.com/100507korea.htm ；
http://tanakanews.com/100531korea.htm ）が、主要なメデイアや政府は、公式報告（北朝鮮による魚雷攻撃と結論）を鵜呑みにして、沖縄普天間基地／辺野古移転への正当化、軍備強化、日米同盟深化などをすすめる道具に使っている。
一方、当の韓国政府は国連の安保理への書翰（http://en.rian.ru/world/20100604/159308808.html ）では、検討を要請するのみで、北朝鮮制
裁を要求してはいない。それを受けて、安保理の議長国メキシコ代表は、非公式だが報告書をまとめ、あの攻撃は避難されるべきとしながらも、北朝鮮がその責任者であるとは言っていない（読売新聞、2010.07.01）。また、アメリカは、最近北朝鮮を「テリスト国家」に再度指定することを見送った。ここカナダバンクーバ－市の代表的新聞であるヴァンクーバーサン紙のコラムニストの一人は、この米韓（それに他の数カ国の専門家も係わったとされるがー疑問）による報告へ様々な疑問を提出している。また別のサイトでは、唯一の証拠品とされる魚雷の詳しい分析から報告書の結論は間違っているという指摘もされている。
これらの動きからは、あの事件の真実はまだ解明されていないことがわかるが、当事者達（韓国政府／米国政府）ですら真相究明を避けようとする（真相が解明されると当事者に不都合か）傾向があ
り、北朝鮮を本当に非難することは避けているきらいが見られる。日本政府／メデイアは、北朝鮮に責任をなすり付けることが、自分達に好都合なのか、または真相究明などという精神は持ち合わせな
いのか、北朝鮮制裁強化などを主張する唯一の国である。しかも多数の国民もあまり疑問を抱かないようである。これがひいては、無条件の普天間基地返還という沖縄県民の念願を無視する政府に加担
することになる。
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天安艦沈没事件をめぐっての最近の日本語情報をリンクします。
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天安艦沈没をめぐる１０の真実 （日朝ネットより）
2010，7，4 日朝ネット作成
１、5月20日に軍民合同調査団が北朝鮮関与の決定的証拠として発表した内容に重大なウソ・疑惑が噴出している。
① 北朝鮮の魚雷設計図と示されたものが発見された魚雷とは別の機種であることを調査団は認めた。15日に魚雷推進体を発見し20日の発表に間に合わせるため無理をして間違えたと釈明。（6/29）しかもいまだに設計図の出典は隠されている。
② 素人でも疑問を持つ魚雷推進体の腐食状態について調査団は当初「科学的な分析で１～２か月と判明」と説明していたが、「肉眼で判断した」と修正した。（6/29）
③軍民合同調査団はペクリョン島の哨兵の証言をもとに「水中爆発によるバブルジェットが天安艦を真っ二つにした」と主張しているが、韓国国会の天安艦真相調査特別委の野党議員は国政調査権を使って、「水柱（バブルジェット）は見なかった」という 哨兵の陳述書を明らかにしている。(7/1)
２、真相究明に一番大切な１次資料が、ほとんど公開されていない。
天安艦長をはじめとする生存者や監視役の哨兵の証言が明らかにされず、メディア関係者は接触できない状況に置かれている。天安艦の切断面など基礎資料も公開されていない。一方で韓国軍が自分たちに都合の悪い一次資料を修正して公表したことを認めている。
例えば軍がしぶしぶ公開したTOD（熱映像観測装置）の映像については、いまだに事件前の２１時２分から艦首と艦尾が分離した２１時２２分までの核心部分の映像が隠されたままである。すでにこのTOD映像については、国防長官が編集を指示した事実を認めている。また、韓国メディア(統一ニュース7/1)が入手した海軍作戦司令部の状況報告では、「２１時１５分に天安艦が原因未詳(爆発音聴取)で浸水した」と報告している。しかしこの海軍報告を合同参謀本部が２１時４５分に修正し、爆発音聴取などを削除して公表した疑惑が持たれている。合同参謀本部議長はすでに、事件当時の泥酔や虚偽報告を認めて辞任している。
３、韓国政府は合同調査団の内容に疑問を提起する言論を弾圧している。
「浅い砂地で座礁した後に米艦と衝突した海難事故」と主張する野党選出の軍民合同調査団員に対し、韓国政府は調査発表直後に名誉棄損で告発。今ではインターネット上で「北魚雷説はねつ造」と主張した高校生まで逮捕される状況になっている。 国連登録NGOが自国政府の国連報告に対して異論を唱えるのは国連ではよくあることだが、韓国参与連帯が6月11日に国連安保理に「国連安保理がすべての根拠と証拠を慎重に検討し、公正で合理的な決定をするよう求める」要請文を提出したことを韓国政府は、「国家保安法違反」と攻撃している。
４、韓国政府はもともと朝鮮の関与を疑っていなかった。
3月26日の事件当初、「北が直接攻撃した可能性は低い」（韓国大統領府報道官3/27）と発表し、事件後4日目に李大統領自ら沈没現場近くのペクリョン島を訪問して救出作業を激励している。しかしその後、遺族らが政府の危機回避への無策、救出活動の遅れを追求し、国民の批判が広がっていった。軍首脳23人と国防部高官2人がすでに事件時の泥酔や虚偽報告・職務放棄などを理由に処分されたが、そのトップである金国防長官が、早くから北の犯行説を流し、それをマスメディアが取り上げる中で政府としても北朝鮮犯行説を取るようになった。
５、韓国国会は６月２９日に北朝鮮を非難する決議を上げたが、韓国世論を代表するとは言えない。
韓国国会に設置された天安艦真相調査特別委員会は、与党ハンナラ党が開始を遅らせ、途中から欠席し、疑惑に蓋をしたまま終了。決議も強行採決によるものであり、 韓国内の世論を代表したとはとても言えない。６月２日の統一地方選挙の与党の敗北は、韓国民衆の「北朝鮮魚雷説を信じるが戦争はやめてほしいという意思」ではなく、「過去の独裁政権と同じように北朝鮮を悪者にして民衆の責任追及を逃れようとする政府への不信」とみるほうが妥当ではないか。
６、朝鮮民主主義人民共和国は、一貫して関与の事実を否定している。
5月20日の合同調査団の発表のわずか30分後に国防委員会報道官が「合同調査団の発表はでっち上げだ。内容を調査する検閲団を派遣する」との声明を発表した。その後も、具体的に調査団の発表の内容を批判し続けている。
７、ロシアも中国も真相の究明と冷静な対応を求めている
ロシア政府は専門家による独自の調査団を韓国に派遣し、7月1日時点ですでに報告書を作成したとされている。すでに駐韓ロシア大使は「（2000年に内部爆発で沈没した）ロシア原潜クルスク号の状況に似ている」と明らかにした。（6/17）メドジェーベフ大統領は「天安艦事件に関連して一方的な見解だけが広がっている。私たちはそのような見解をそのまま当然のことと受け入れてはいけない。事件に対する徹底した調査が必要だ」（6/18）と述べ、韓国側の調査結果に疑問を投げかけている。
中国政府も一貫して合同調査団の報告に疑問を投げかけ、関係国に冷静な対応を求めている。クリントン米国務長官が5月24日から25日に北京を訪問し説得を試みたと言 われているが、変わっていない。
８、韓国政府を全面的に支援してきた米政府も、距離を置き始めている。
米国務省報道担当次官補は、「北朝鮮が非難されている天安艦沈没は国際法違反行為ではなく、北朝鮮をテロ支援国家リストに入れることを正当化できない」と明らかにした。同時に「天安艦沈没は明らかな停戦協定違反であり、この問題を協議するために北朝鮮との協議を模索しているが北朝鮮が応じていない」「北朝鮮が近隣諸国との関係を改善し朝鮮半島の非核化のための積極的措置を講じることを望む。このような行動は停戦状態を解決し、半島の平和と安定を構築する環境を作る」と米朝協議に言及している。
９、G8サミットの声明でさえ、北朝鮮の関与を認めていない。
G8サミットの首脳宣言は、「軍民合同調査団の調査報告を支持し、その脈絡で我々は、 天安艦沈没をおこした攻撃を非難する。朝鮮民主主義人民共和国に対して韓国への攻撃や敵対的な行為慎むように求める。また、事件の責任所在究明のための韓国政府の努力を支持する。」と発表(6/26)。これを日本のマスコミは「北朝鮮を事実上非難」 (朝日)と報道したが、よく読めば朝鮮の事件への関与は認めていない。韓国のメディア は、ロシア代表団関係者が「調査結果は最終的なものとは見なされておらず、北朝鮮を非難することは否定的な結果につながる」と語ったと報道している。（聯合ニュース6/26） 調査報告の信憑性に問題が生じれば、この声明は当然効力を失う。
６月２７日に閉幕したG20サミットでは、採択された首脳宣言と議長声明では、天安艦 問題は全く触れられなかった。韓国は共同議長国として北朝鮮非難を盛り込んで国連安保理決議に向けた流れを作ろうとしたが、中国などの反対により実現しなかったと言われている。
１０、日本政府の好戦的対応は、冷静な対応を求める周辺国の中では突出している。マスメディアは事実すら伝えない。
日本政府は合同調査団の報告に一切の疑問を提起せず、G8サミットなどで韓国政府の立場を援護。この間の国会では、朝鮮の船舶に対して臨検を可能にする法案を成立させる（5/28）など独自の制裁を実施。マスメディアも、韓国国内で調査報告の真偽を めぐり与野党が激しく対立している事実すら伝えない。朝鮮バッシングがあたりまえの 体質に陥っている。
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以下は、バンクーバー九条の会 会長 落合栄一郎さんが７月３日、『日刊ベリタ』に書いたものです。
韓国哨戒艦沈没についての疑惑
先に（日刊ベリタ2010.06.23）、この事件についての韓国国内での民間からの疑問提出を韓国政府が躍起になって押さえつけようとする様が報告された。日本では、世界中でも最も早い時期に田中宇氏が非常に重大な疑問符を投げかけた（http://tanakanews.com/100507korea.htm ；
http://tanakanews.com/100531korea.htm ）が、主要なメデイアや政府は、公式報告（北朝鮮による魚雷攻撃と結論）を鵜呑みにして、沖縄普天間基地／辺野古移転への正当化、軍備強化、日米同盟深化などをすすめる道具に使っている。
一方、当の韓国政府は国連の安保理への書翰（http://en.rian.ru/world/20100604/159308808.html ）では、検討を要請するのみで、北朝鮮制
裁を要求してはいない。それを受けて、安保理の議長国メキシコ代表は、非公式だが報告書をまとめ、あの攻撃は避難されるべきとしながらも、北朝鮮がその責任者であるとは言っていない（読売新聞、2010.07.01）。また、アメリカは、最近北朝鮮を「テリスト国家」に再度指定することを見送った。ここカナダバンクーバ－市の代表的新聞であるヴァンクーバーサン紙のコラムニストの一人は、この米韓（それに他の数カ国の専門家も係わったとされるがー疑問）による報告へ様々な疑問を提出している。また別のサイトでは、唯一の証拠品とされる魚雷の詳しい分析から報告書の結論は間違っているという指摘もされている。
これらの動きからは、あの事件の真実はまだ解明されていないことがわかるが、当事者達（韓国政府／米国政府）ですら真相究明を避けようとする（真相が解明されると当事者に不都合か）傾向があ
り、北朝鮮を本当に非難することは避けているきらいが見られる。日本政府／メデイアは、北朝鮮に責任をなすり付けることが、自分達に好都合なのか、または真相究明などという精神は持ち合わせな
いのか、北朝鮮制裁強化などを主張する唯一の国である。しかも多数の国民もあまり疑問を抱かないようである。これがひいては、無条件の普天間基地返還という沖縄県民の念願を無視する政府に加担
することになる。
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Saturday, June 12, 2010
Questions about Cheonan Sinking Part III 天安艦沈没事件の疑問 パート3
******Japan Focus Article
John McGlynn: Politics in Command: The "International" Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan and the Risk of a New Korean War
http://www.japanfocus.org/-John-McGlynn/3372
In this compelling and revealing article, McGlynn points out that the team of "international investigation" consisted of all but one belligerent states of Korean War - South Korea, US,
UK, Canada and Australia, plus Sweden. It was basically purely South Korean military investigation, only rubber-stamped by the observers of the rest of the countries, and Sweden even abstained. The torpedo part used as an evidence was said to be discovered five days before the South Korea's self-set report release date of May 20, in time for their election in two weeks. The marking of the "No.1" in Hangul on the torpedo was hand-written on a strangely clean surface on the part. That was said to resemble the North Korean torpedo described in their brochure, but South Korean authority has not released that brochure and nobody knows where
it is. The 400-page report that is said to exist has not been released; all we have is this 5-page "statement" in which South Korea concludes that the blame is on North Korea because "there is no other plausible explanation." The list of questionable points is endless.
For more,
http://www.japanfocus.org/-John-McGlynn/3372
******The Russian investigation team refused to put the blame on North Korea.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article450117.ece
Here are news links in Japanese. ロシア調査団が北朝鮮の犯行とするには証拠が不十分すぎると結論を出したというニュースです。
読売新聞
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/news/20100608-OYT1T01027.htm
毎日新聞
http://mainichi.jp/select/world/news/20100609k0000e030049000c.html
Voice of Russia
http://japanese.ruvr.ru/2010/06/08/9357442.html
時事通信
http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=int_30&rel=j7&k=2010060800516
********PSPD, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy issued three-part reports on the sinking of South Korean corvette Cheonan. PSPD is one of the largest civic organizations in Korea. This is an excellent summary of the questions that are remaining to be answered.
韓国の市民団体、「参与連合」が天安号沈没事件についての疑問をまとめました。日本語版が「あなたから」のサイト見られます。
http://www.anatakara.com/petition/six-problems-eight-questions-on-cheonan-incident-investigation.html
All the text of the three reports are copied below.
[Cheonan Warship Report1]
The PSPD's Stance on the Final Investigation Report on the Cheonan and the countering measures of the Lee Myung-bak administration
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20903
[Cheonan Warship Report2]
Eight Questions Needing Answers on the Investigation of the Sunken Naval Corvette Cheonan
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20904
[Cheonan Warship Report3]
Six Problems on the Investigation Process of the Cheonan Sinking
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20905
Here is the first report.
[Cheonan Warship Report1]
The PSPD's Stance on the Final Investigation Report on the Cheonan and the countering measures of the Lee Myung-bak administration
1. Brief on the Cheonan Incident
● The 1,300-ton patrol combat corvette (PCC) Cheonan sank splitted into two about 1 nautical mile off the southwestern coast of Baengnyeong-do(Island) near the NLL(Northen Limit Line) in the shallow water of the West Sea at the time estimated to be around 21:15 to 21:22 on March 26, 2010. At the time, the ROK and the U.S. forces were jointly conducting the annual field military exercise, Foal Eagle. Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command announced that the WMD (weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons) removal team involved in this military exercise just in case of North Korea's contingent situation.
● While the Ministry of Defense elaborated that the Cheonan was not mobilized directly related to the Foal Eagle exercise, Major Derek Peterson of the US Navy's 7th Fleet who was on the rescue mission for the sunken Cheonan stated in an interview with a Korean TV station on April 5, 2010 that the sinking occurred during the joint field exercise conducted by the ROK and the U.S. on a regular basis.
● Although 58 survived including the captain of the warship, 46 were either dead or missing. Strangely though, while the ROK military could not locate the vessel for 48 hours after sinking, a fishing boat equipped with a fish detector found the ship immediately after joining the search effort, raising distrust among the missing sailors' families.
2. The Basic Stance of the PSPD on the Cheonan's Sinking
● PSPD has taken the following stance toward the sinking of the naval vessel.
- First, the truth behind the Cheonan incident needs to be elucidated clearly beyond any doubt and the party responsible for the sinking, once found, needs to take the rightly responsibility.
- Second, the South Korean government needs to open up the information confirmed during the investigation process to remove all misunderstanding and doubts among Korean people. Publically disclosing the information is especially important because of significant impacts that the incident has over national security and the inter-Korean relations, and because of the frequent changes in the Navy's stance over the truth and attempts at concealing vital information during the early stage of investigation.
● The following approach is recommended to remove all misunderstanding and controversy during the fact-finding process for the cause of the sinking.
- First, it is necessary to prove whether the vessel sank because of an external underwater explosion based on apparent evidence. At the same time, a thorough investigation is needed on the various possibilities of the sinking due including running around or colliding, also based on apparent evidence. By doing so, all the doubts or presumption can be clearly removed that the government approached the investigation with prejudgement.
- Once the result shows that the explosion was caused by a torpedo, then the subsequent investigation should prove that North Korea is behind the explosion, beyond any doubt backed by clear evidence.
- If the subsequent investigation proves that the explosion was caused by a torpedo then the next step is to prove that North Korea is behind the "torpedo explosion", also based on sure evidence without any doubts.
● PSPD expected that the pertaining defense authorities to release the results of the investigation befitting the above-stated approach.
3. PSPD's Brief Evaluation of the Final Report released by the Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group (JIG) on the Cheonan Incident
● The final report by the JIG on May 20, 2010 stated that the Cheonan's sinking was the result of a non-contact explosion that had occurred approximately 3m left of the gas turbine room at a depth of about 6 to 9m caused by a North Korean CHT-02D torpedo presumably fired by a North Korean submarine, a 130 ton YONO class.
● However, there are still many questions that went unanswered and the contents of the final report contained many loopholes and evidence is still lacking to conclude that the sinking was the result of a torpedo attack despite several pieces of information reported by President Lee Myung-bak and the JIG from the Ministry of Defense. Especially, the contents of the final report were different or changed from the interim results reported by the government or those reported to the National Assembly. Thus, the final report cannot be used to fully answer those questions raised during the process of investigation.
● The Ministry of Defense has failed to logically elaborate the actual relationship among various facts by not publically disclosing the basic information such as the wake record behind the ship, the contents of communication at the time of the accident, survivors' testimonies and so on. The explanation over the infiltration of a North Korean submarine presumed to have fired a torpedo is not convincing enough because it had been drawn upon presumptions.
● The bigger issue is the fact the final report was made without investigating the crucial vessel parts and structures that had been affected by sound waves from a torpedo such as the diesel engine and gas turbine room and without completing the simulation on the explosion. Thus, the government while trying to meet the schedule has brought criticism upon itself that the conclusion is not complete. Then, the question goes as to whether there has been any political motivation behind releasing the final results in hurry without completing the investigation.
● The evidence on a torpedo attack proposed by the JIG lacks convincing rationale and the same goes to the explanation over the infiltration of a North Korean submarine. The ROK military showed a torpedo shooter and a screw, both of which had been well-preserved beyond understanding. However, it has failed to show or proving other related evidences with convincing power including (1) the vessel that damaged by a torpedo beyond any doubt, (2) soldiers for that matter, and (3) any records or images related with the incident. Moreover, the military is just increasing doubts by changing the explanation over the facts.
● In other words, it would be difficult to conclude that the pieces of a torpedo, which was presented by the Ministry of Defense, presumed to be of North Korean's and oxidized aluminum substances are the vital evidence and that the real truth has been found beyond any doubt. The report released on May 20, 2010 has numerous limitations in silencing all the doubts and distrust piled up due to the censoring and changing of information by the Ministry of Defense on the cause of the Cheonan sinking.
4. Problems related with the Counter-Measures decided by President Lee Myung-bak after the JIG Final Report
● In its official statement on the same day, PSPD has asserted that additional investigation is a must for the JIG report on May 20 to gain understanding and support from Korean people and an bipartisan investigation must be conducted by the National Parliament members, not an investigation team under control of the military who had monopolized and censored the information regarding the Cheonan incident. PSPD also urged that the government refrain from taking a conclusive stance and announcing measures that could provoke serious political and diplomatic controversies domestically and internationally until the National Assembly has completed the fact-finding process.
● However, the Lee adminstration has not listened to the reasonable aforementioned proposals. Instead, President Lee and the Lee administration convened a meeting of the National Security Council on May 21, 2010 to discuss sanctions against North Korea. On May 24, President Lee held an address to nation and declared "stern measures" against North Korea including terminating of the North-South agreement on usages of sea routes, suspending all trade and exchanges between the South and the North, changing the South's military posture from passive defense to proactive deterrence including resuming of propaganda broadcasting toward North Korea and exercising of the right to self-defense in case of the North's military violations, strengthening strategic power and military drills against submarines, referring the matter to the UN Security Council and so on. The President Lee also urged North Korea for apology and punishment of those responsible for the incident.
● North Korea is strongly detesting the Lee administration's report and the follow-up measures. On May 20, North Korea denied its involvement in statement of the National Defense Committee and demanded the evidence to a team of North Korean inspectors to be dispatched to South Korea. When South Korea refused to heed their demands, North Korea announced in its statement through the Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland that all the inter-Korean relations issues arising in the future will be handled under a wartime law and "if the South were to respond with actions and retaliation, it will take resolute measures without any mercy including severing all ties with South Korea, abrogating the agreement on non-aggression between the South and the North and completely abandoning all forms of inter-Korean cooperation. Commander of North Korean Central Command asserted that it will directly point, shoot, and destroy if South Korea were to start a new form of psychological propagandas against the North.
● As a result, South-North confrontation is worsening toward military tensions on the Korean peninsula to the verge of war.
5. PSPD's Recommendations
● PSPD strongly urges the Lee Myung-bak administration and the North Korean government to stop any provocative with holding safety of the people on the Korean peninsula as collateral and military remarks and actions holding the people of the Korean Peninsula hostage.
● PSPD also strongly urges the Lee administration of South Korea proceed additional investigations to supplement the incomplete investigation of the Cheonan incident, and stop aggressive diplomatic measures that could deepen political and military conflicts in the South and on the Korean Peninsula until Korean people are convinced with the explanation.
● Especially, the measures announced by the Lee administration on May 24 not only abrogate the South-North agreement on maritime transportation but also contain dangerous measures that can basically ruin the Korean people's rights to peaceful living. Thus, these measures should been chosen after careful and sufficient deliberation and review, after the release of the investigation results that can be acceptable to politicians of both ruling and opposition parties and the people of Korea.
● Based on the aforementioned perspectives, PSPD raises the following eight questions that must be answered for the Korean government and politicians of the ruling and opposition parties to find the real truth behind the Cheonan incident.
Question 1. Had been really a torpedo-induced water column?
Question 2. No such severe injuries evident of a torpedo explosion found in the bodies of survivors and deceased soldiers
Question 3. Is it true that there is no TOD recordings from the early stage of the Cheonan incident?
Question 4. There are no severe damages evident of an explosion on the severed surface, on the bottom of the ship and in the interior of the hull.
Question 5. Why the military concealed the finding and refloating of the gas turbine room? And why did they omit the investigation of the gas turbine room from investigating?
Question 6. Were the oxidized aluminum substances, not gun powder, evident of an explosion?
Question 7. What is the profile of the YONO class submarine? Is it understandable that the submarine had not been followed for several days by the ROK and the U.S. surveillance?
Question 8. Why couldn't a torpedo launch be detected?
This document summarizes the questions raised by the Center for Peace and Disarmament of People's Solidarity for Perspiratory Democracy (PSPD) on the report released on May 20, 2010 by the joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) under the Ministry of Defense on the cause of sinking of the naval warship Cheonan.
1. Summary of the Report by the Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group(JIG)
◯ The Official Results of the JIG (May 20, 2010)
: The PCC Cheonan was believed to have sunken as the ship cut in half due to a strong underwater explosion at the lower left side of the gas turbine room. The site of explosion was approximately 3m left of the gas turbine room at a depth of 6 to 9m. The weapon was confirmed to be a highly explosive CHT-02D torpedo made by North Korea with an explosion warhead of 250kg.
◯ Explosion Due to an Underwater Bubble Jet
● The ship severely deformed toward the top side: The hull and iron sheets were curved inward, the evidence of strong shock waves and bubble detected.
● Detection of a water column
● Partial computer simulation showed the ship cut in half under a similar situation
● Evidence of pressure and bubbles resulted from a torpedo explosion found in the entire hull of the ship
● The found non-crystalline oxidized aluminum substances believed to have come from a high temperature and high pressure explosion.
◯ A Torpedo Attack from a North Korean Submarine
● The torpedo parts discovered by a dredging ship at the site of the explosion on May 15 have the same schematics of a North Korean torpedo on the export brochure published by North Korea. This heavyweight HT-02D torpedo manufactured by North Korea utilizing acoustic/wake homing and passive acoustic tracking methods has 21 inches in diameter and weighs 1.7 tons with a net explosive weight of up to 250kg.
● The hangul "1번" (number 1 in English) handwritten inside of the tail end of the propeller is the same marking found in a North Korean torpedo for military exercise purposes secured by the South Korean military in 2003.
● It was confirmed that a SANGO class (300ton) submarine and a YONO class (130ton) midget submarine left a North Korean base/port in the West Sea two or three days before the attack and returned back to the port two or three days after attacking the Cheonan warship. Among these two, the YONO class was believed to have been responsible for the attack of the Cheonan vessel.
● These North Korean submarines were presumed to have infiltrated and left the South Korean waters via international seas.
● The analysis on the chemicals found adhering to both the torpedo parts and the hull revealed to be oxidized aluminum substances that resulted from a torpedo explosion.
2. Insufficient Evidence Proving a Torpedo Attack
Question 1.
Had been really a torpedo-induced water column?
● The Ministry of Defense stated in its final report that a water column coming from the bubble-jet effect was present. However, it had reported that no water column was detected. The problem is that the changed findings lack convincing power.
● The joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) claimed that a water column caused by a torpedo was present based on the findings (1) a lookout at the coast of Baengnyeong-do Island reported to have witnessed a 20-30m wide and 100m tall water column, (2) a port-side lookout reported that he felt water drops on his face, and (3) oxidised aluminum substances to have come from a bubble jet were found on the entire hull including the bow and the stern turret.
● The findings, which the water column had left marks on the entire hull including the bow and the stern but only water-drops on the solider's face, are not convincing enough. The survivors including the port-side lookouts testified during the press conference that there was no water column and no smell of gunpowder.
● The Defense Minister when questioned by the National Assembly immediately after the release of the final results stated that the existence of a water column is not important and a simulation on water column will be completed in July.
Question 2.
No such severe injuries evident of a torpedo explosion found in the bodies of survivors and deceased soldiers
● No explosion-related injuries were found in the bodies of the surviving and dead soldiers such as burns, ruptures of internal organs such as the eardrum, and severe fractures, etc.
● No such injuries were found on the bodies of the dead soldiers found very near the site of presumed explosion. And it is not understandable that the final report had no explanation over this important matter.
● The water where the Cheonan incident had occurred is known to be one of the abundant fishing grounds, but the coast guards on the search mission reported no massive death of fish despite the explosion. Although the Ministry of Defense claimed that it was because of fast tides, the water was still at the time of the incident.
Question 3.
Is it true that there is no TOD recordings from the early stage of the Cheonan incident?
● The military had hidden the existence of the TOD (thermal observation device) that recorded the sea scenes from Baengnyeong-do Island including the process of Cheonan sinking and reported finally that no TOD recordings were present at the time when the ship severed into two. However, navy retirees reported that TOD images are recorded automatically and refuted that there would be no blind spots because several TOD devices record the same area at the same time.
● The media including the daily newspaper Hankyoreh reported the testimonies of unanimous witnesses who had seen the TOD images recorded at the time of the ship severing into half. They stated that the Cheonan warship was sailing smoothly and suddenly broke off into half, then the stern sank less than 5 minutes after breaking off and the bow floated about 20 minutes and started to sink after it had suddenly tilted toward the right. They also stated that there had not been a water column.
● National Assembly person Lee Jung-hee of Democratic Labor Party reported the similar findings at the National Assembly during the general discussion session on May 19, 2010.
Question 4.
There are no severe damages evident of an explosion on the severed surface, on the bottom of the ship and in the interior of the hull.
● More than anything else, no evidence indicative of severe damages presumed to have been caused by shock waves of a torpedo explosion has been found on the severed surface. The severed surface partially opened to the public seemed well-preserved compared to other ships damaged by torpedo attacks. Even those ammunitions and goods/articles found from the hull interior were well-organized.
● In the interim reports and the final report on May 20, the military announced that (1) an underwater explosion was highly likely based on the torn shape and (2) the ship sank as the result of a non-contact explosion since there had not been blackened soot coming from an explosion from the interior or exterior of the ship, no evidence of melting from heat and no punctured spots. However, experts refuted that these findings themselves are the specific evidence that the cause was not from a torpedo explosion.
● The Ministry of Defense stating that no punctures form after the breakage from a bubble jet is not convincing enough to explain a proximal explosion.
● Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation specializing in ship wreckage recovery refuted the findings by the Ministry that breakage from an explosion would smash severed surface in the direction sustaining the explosive force, the severed surface would be damaged up to the point of no recognition, and no electric wires would be left being obliterated.
● He also pointed out that (1) if the torpedo explosion occurred 3m below the bottom of the ship, the ship bottom should show punctures from the explosion and the ship would be full of shattered torpedo pieces, and (2) the severed surface of the Cheonan is characteristic of physical forces rather than an explosion or proximal explosion.
Question 5.
Why the military concealed the finding and refloating of the gas turbine room? And why did they omit the investigation of the gas turbine room from investigating?
● The Ministry of Defense later confirmed the recovery of the gas turbine room, which was missed on the incident, after a civilian testified the recovery on May 18.
● The Ministry asserted that a torpedo with a net explosive power between 200 to 300 kg had exploded approximately 3m left of the bottom center of the gas turbine room. And civilian experts who had considered the possibility of aground or collision pointed out that the gas turbine room would show evidences. Thus, the gas turbine room is the critical evidence that can show the real cause of the Cheonan sinking. Nonetheless, the military tried to hide the recovery and omitted the investigation result at the time of the final report.
● According to the reports by the military, the diesel engine was recovered around mid May, and the gas turbine room was recovered on May 19 and carried to the 2nd Fleet Headquarters on May 20. In other words, investigation on the gas turbine room had not been reflected on the final report.
● Nonetheless, the military reported the final results on May 20, arguing that the findings were sufficient. Coincidentally, campaigns for local elections kicked off on that date. It is suspicious that the military investigation team and the Lee government may have reported the investigation results with undue haste with certain political goals.
● The JIG disclosed some parts of the recovered gas turbine room in pictures after May 31.
Question 6.
Were the oxidized aluminum substances, not gun powder, evident of an explosion?
● According to the media, the military was focusing on finding evidence of gun powder at the time of investigation. The military investigation team reported the finding of little trace of highly explosive substances such as RDX and HMX but did not claim that they are evident of a torpedo attack because they were present in very minute amounts and are used by both the Eastern and Western blocks.
● Instead, the investigation team laid out oxidized aluminum substances as the circumstantial evidence of a torpedo explosion, and reported that these substances were discovered in eight places of the hull and similar substances were found in the North Korean torpedo parts recovered. They reported that these non-crystalline (white powder) oxidized aluminum substances are formed only at high pressure such as a torpedo explosion.
● However, based on the findings that (1) these substances were discovered on the hull composed of aluminum parts but not on other metal parts or the bodies of the crew and (2) a large quantity of oxidized aluminum was present especially on the aluminum screw, doubts have been raised by civilian experts. Some citizens showed pictures of similar oxidized substances from their own motorboat screws, raising doubts that this oxidized substance could just be of oxidized aluminum.
● They also raised the doubt over the minute amount of explosives (RDX, HMX, TNT) detected in the Cheonan warships. The doubt is that the amount of explosives found on the Cheonan is as small as that can be found in other ordinary warships, even though the amount of those explosives is more than that of aluminum in the composition of torpedo explosives.
● Furthermore, a thick layer of aluminum in large quantity covered the torpedo screw discovered but it is beyond common sense that the screw was well-preserved without damage, and it is difficult to understand that the "1번" mark handwritten with a oil pen on the propulsion section of the presented torpedo was well-preserved.
● A National Assembly person, a Democratic Party member, Choi Moon-soon raised a question based on the opinion of Professor Lee Seung-heon, one of the Physics professors at the University of Virginia, which oxidized aluminum discovered in the hull and North Korean torpedo parts was not come from an explosion.
3. Lack of evidence showing the attack was from a North Korean submarine
Question 7.
What is the profile of the YONO class submarine? Is it understandable that the submarine had not been followed for several days by the ROK and the U.S. surveillance?
● The Ministry of Defense is assuming that the attack was from a YONO class submarine. The only ground for assumption is that the South Korean military failed to follow up a SANG-O class submarine and a YONO class submarine along with their mother ship from a North Korean naval base for several days.
● There is no evidence, in other words, there is no specific explanation over how the North Korean YONO class submarine attacked the Cheonan. However, the explanation is just one hypothesis after another.
● The military explained that 300ton or heavier SANG-O class submarines could not be operated at the site of the Cheonan incident because of its big size and they do not have the capability to shoot heavy torpedoes.
● That was why the military presumed that a YONO class submarine was the culprit behind the Cheonan sinking. The YONO class around 120 to 130 ton submarine is smaller than the SANG-O class, in which the existence of this smaller class was reported for the first time through the final report of the investigation. However, doubts are raised because the military is mute about whether this class is capable to launch heavy torpedoes, how long they can stay in underwater, etc.
● However, the YONO class (midget) submarine is another name for the GHARDIR class owned by Iran and it is not known whether North Korea has YONO class submarines. It is confirmed that North Korea had exported YUGO class midget submarines to Iran. YUGO class submarines and P-4 class similar to the YUGO class are not capable or have limited capability to shoot heavy torpedoes.
● The Defence Minister reported on May 22 that the government had known about the existence of the YONO class submarines since 2005. However, he stated on April 2 during the report to the National Assembly that North Korea submarines does not have much underwater navigation capabilities like latest US submarines. He also stated that two submarines were not found at one of three naval bases of North Korea. However, he estimated the possibility low since the naval base is quite far from Bangryung-do. In addition, he repeatedly denied the possibility since the submarines are of low-speed type and they do not have capability of long-lasting submerge.
Question 8.
Why couldn't a torpedo launch be detected?
● Even if the navy could not have followed North Korean submarines with sonar, it lacks convincing power that the they could not detect an approaching torpedo with sonar because it is known that an approaching torpedo is very easy to detect with sonar.
● On this issue, the military had claimed that the Cheonan's sonar system was old so that it had only 70% accuracy in detecting torpedoes in 2Km radius and only around 50% in the 30m shallow water at the scene of the incident.
● It is also doubtful over the fact that the North Korean submarine that had probably been dispatched after the sinking of the Cheonan had escaped without being detected even by the P3C patrol aircraft equipped with advanced radars.
4. Others
● There are several other questions but PSPD keeps eyes on the process of the accreditation conducted by the National Assembly, then it will raise unanswered issues.
Problem1. The military not disclosing and censoring basic information on the Cheonan vessel
Problem2. Hiding of the TOD video-recordings of the Cheonan breaking into half and sinking and changing of words
Problem3. Imposing political and legal measures and restrictions against ordinary citizens raising doubts
Problem4. The JIG practically excluding civilians
Problem5. The JIG that limited investigative efforts by civilian members
Problem6. Unknown roles of the foreign investigators
1. Objectives
● Despite the JIG final report on the cause of the Cheonan sinking on May 20, there are still many questions and doubts regarding the cause of the Cheonan sinking.
● Questions and doubts are being raised because the final report lacks credibility and partly because the military itself maintained no transparency and excluded others in the investigation process and method and forming and operation of the JIG.
● During the process of investigation the cause of the Cheonan sinking, the Lee administration and the military have shown the abuse of serious security power far from the basic principle of the civil democracy control such as (1) monopoly on information and misuse/abuse of military secretes, (2) non-disclosure, selective disclosure and disclosure at convenience of vital information, (3) abuse of legal restrictions to those people raising doubts.
● Thus, PSPD once again points out the problems that have arisen during the investigation of the Cheonan incident.
2. Problems with the military in censoring information and selective disclosure of information
Problem 1.
The military not disclosing and censoring basic information on the Cheonan vessel
● The Ministry of Defense has refuged all the requests by PSPD on the releasing of information on 16 items in 4 areas including the communication records and navigation routes of the Cheonan, according the Information Act, to determine the cause of the sinking clearly and objectively.
● The government and the military did not disclose or claimed that there was no record of basic information including the navigation routes, daily logs and records, KNTDS, TOD images of the sinking, and the broken surface and hull bottom immediately after recovery, stating that they are "military secretes"
● More seriously, they disclosed the severed surface and damaged parts critical to investigation immediately after recovery only partially so that the extent of real damage could not been determined.
● Testimonies by the survivors were limitedly disclosed through a press conference in the controlled environment.
● The military could have released the pertinent information transformed into a form of non-classified documents, and even if they were classified, it is very important to resolve any doubts for proving the attack by North Korea; however, it had not disclosed most of the documents by expanding the scope of national secretes.
● On the other hand, it had selectively disclosed the information on the information supporting the military's claim regardless of the information being classified.
● As a result, the people of Korea cannot know the basic information on the Cheonan incident such as what was the mission of the warship, where it was heading, where did it sink, how it sank, etc.
Problem 2.
Hiding of the TOD image-recordings of the Cheonan breaking into half and sinking and changing of words
● The military initially had claimed that there was no TOD images, but partially released these images three times on March 30, April 1 and April after refutation by military retirees. However, it did not release the TOD images at the time of the incident and claimed that the released images are all it had every time.
● However, reports followed later that there are no blind spots in taking TOD images because they are taken automatically, and the media reported testimonies from unanimous informants that they have seen images at the time of the incident. National Assembly person Lee Jung-hee also spoke of the same thing at the National Assembly.
● According to testimonies of unanimous witnesses, the Cheonan was sailing with no problem but suddenly broke into half after which the stern sank in five minutes and the bow after floating about 20 minutes on water suddenly tilted toward the right and started to sink. They said that there was no water column.
● Several military officers sued National Assembly person Lee for defamation. However, additional TOD images were released on May 30, claiming that the images were taken after 40 seconds of the incident. There had not been any apology for perjury and they claimed that the suit is still effective against the assembly member.
Problem 3.
Imposing political and legal measures and restrictions against ordinary citizens raising doubts
● The military also sued Dr. Park Sung-won, a former NSC(National Security Council) member and currently researcher at Brookings Institute in the US), who had raised doubts over a torpedo attack, and Shin Snag-cheol, civil member of the JIG recommended by Democratic Party are the representative cases of the government restricting those raising doubts against the Cheonan incident for defamation.
● The military also made a series of suits against ordinary citizens who raised the possibility of the Cheonan colliding with a US ship on the Internet.
● On the other hand, Asian studies scholar Kim Yong-ok, who lectured that he could not believe the investigative results released by the military and North Korea would be mortified if it were to be innocent, has been sued by a few conservative citizens based on National Security Law.
3. Problems with the JIG
Problem 4.
The JIG practically excluding civilians
● The list of the members of the joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) that was put into investigation of the Cheonan incident on April 1 were not released from the beginning.
● When civilian organizations including PSPD raised issues with not involving civilians in the JIG, President Lee Myung-bak ordered to change the head of the JIG to a civilian on April 6 and KAIST honorary professor Yoon Duk-yong was appointed to head the JIG on April 11. However, no practically improvement was made even after this change.
● Despite the fact that the JIG naming 'civilian-military', it is not known where these civilians affiliated to and who exerted influence. The only information released by the media was that the JIG is composed of some 20 to 30 members and most of the so-called civilians were a former military serviceman, a former researcher of a military research center, or an executive of a shipbuilding company in the defense industry.
● It is not known that the number of members the JIG was composed with, but saying around 130 to 150 members.
Problem 5.
The JIG that limited investigative efforts by civilian members
● Shin Sang-cheol (recommended by Democratic Party) who revealed the status of JIG member on his own detested that the JIG did not provide even briefing materials and basic information needed for investigation such as the navigation course record, KNTDS, and the TOD records.
● He testified that the investigation was conducted based on the assumption that there had been a torpedo attack while excluding other possibilities from the consideration and no investigations were conducted for other possibilities.
● It means that the military conducted the investigation according to its plan and intention if civilian members' activities had been restricted.
Problems 6.
Unknown roles of the foreign investigators
● The JIG had been criticized for lacking transparency and independence so that the Lee administration revealed that it had requested four countries including the US to dispatch investigators (24 total) to join the JIG's efforts.
● However, there had not been official announcement from the government on the specific mission and roles of these foreign investigators.
● Thomas Eccles, head of the US investigators, agreed to all the results of the JIG investigation disclosed during the press conference. He stated that the investigation was done in close cooperation between Korea and the U.S. and agreed to it had been conducted based on testimonies and scientific analyses. However, he dodged the questions on the specific roles of foreign investigators. And General Park Jung-e who had been present at the press conference added that the results released on the day had been agreed by all foreign investigators.
● However, within his statement, it is not certain whether the foreign members had participated as observers or whether they played a more active role in fact-finding and finding the cause of sinking. Especially, there had not been any explanation on the roles of these foreign members in providing specific and vital analysis and information such as securing evidence of North Korean torpedo attack and the course charted by North Korean submarines or they just shared the investigation results proposed by the South Korean military. Thus, it is difficult to determine whether foreign investigators are an important group having the power to decide credibility of the investigation or not.
John McGlynn: Politics in Command: The "International" Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan and the Risk of a New Korean War
http://www.japanfocus.org/-John-McGlynn/3372
In this compelling and revealing article, McGlynn points out that the team of "international investigation" consisted of all but one belligerent states of Korean War - South Korea, US,
UK, Canada and Australia, plus Sweden. It was basically purely South Korean military investigation, only rubber-stamped by the observers of the rest of the countries, and Sweden even abstained. The torpedo part used as an evidence was said to be discovered five days before the South Korea's self-set report release date of May 20, in time for their election in two weeks. The marking of the "No.1" in Hangul on the torpedo was hand-written on a strangely clean surface on the part. That was said to resemble the North Korean torpedo described in their brochure, but South Korean authority has not released that brochure and nobody knows where
it is. The 400-page report that is said to exist has not been released; all we have is this 5-page "statement" in which South Korea concludes that the blame is on North Korea because "there is no other plausible explanation." The list of questionable points is endless.
For more,
http://www.japanfocus.org/-John-McGlynn/3372
******The Russian investigation team refused to put the blame on North Korea.
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article450117.ece
Here are news links in Japanese. ロシア調査団が北朝鮮の犯行とするには証拠が不十分すぎると結論を出したというニュースです。
読売新聞
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/news/20100608-OYT1T01027.htm
毎日新聞
http://mainichi.jp/select/world/news/20100609k0000e030049000c.html
Voice of Russia
http://japanese.ruvr.ru/2010/06/08/9357442.html
時事通信
http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=int_30&rel=j7&k=2010060800516
********PSPD, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy issued three-part reports on the sinking of South Korean corvette Cheonan. PSPD is one of the largest civic organizations in Korea. This is an excellent summary of the questions that are remaining to be answered.
韓国の市民団体、「参与連合」が天安号沈没事件についての疑問をまとめました。日本語版が「あなたから」のサイト見られます。
http://www.anatakara.com/petition/six-problems-eight-questions-on-cheonan-incident-investigation.html
All the text of the three reports are copied below.
[Cheonan Warship Report1]
The PSPD's Stance on the Final Investigation Report on the Cheonan and the countering measures of the Lee Myung-bak administration
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20903
[Cheonan Warship Report2]
Eight Questions Needing Answers on the Investigation of the Sunken Naval Corvette Cheonan
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20904
[Cheonan Warship Report3]
Six Problems on the Investigation Process of the Cheonan Sinking
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English/20905
Here is the first report.
[Cheonan Warship Report1]
The PSPD's Stance on the Final Investigation Report on the Cheonan and the countering measures of the Lee Myung-bak administration
1. Brief on the Cheonan Incident
● The 1,300-ton patrol combat corvette (PCC) Cheonan sank splitted into two about 1 nautical mile off the southwestern coast of Baengnyeong-do(Island) near the NLL(Northen Limit Line) in the shallow water of the West Sea at the time estimated to be around 21:15 to 21:22 on March 26, 2010. At the time, the ROK and the U.S. forces were jointly conducting the annual field military exercise, Foal Eagle. Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command announced that the WMD (weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons) removal team involved in this military exercise just in case of North Korea's contingent situation.
● While the Ministry of Defense elaborated that the Cheonan was not mobilized directly related to the Foal Eagle exercise, Major Derek Peterson of the US Navy's 7th Fleet who was on the rescue mission for the sunken Cheonan stated in an interview with a Korean TV station on April 5, 2010 that the sinking occurred during the joint field exercise conducted by the ROK and the U.S. on a regular basis.
● Although 58 survived including the captain of the warship, 46 were either dead or missing. Strangely though, while the ROK military could not locate the vessel for 48 hours after sinking, a fishing boat equipped with a fish detector found the ship immediately after joining the search effort, raising distrust among the missing sailors' families.
2. The Basic Stance of the PSPD on the Cheonan's Sinking
● PSPD has taken the following stance toward the sinking of the naval vessel.
- First, the truth behind the Cheonan incident needs to be elucidated clearly beyond any doubt and the party responsible for the sinking, once found, needs to take the rightly responsibility.
- Second, the South Korean government needs to open up the information confirmed during the investigation process to remove all misunderstanding and doubts among Korean people. Publically disclosing the information is especially important because of significant impacts that the incident has over national security and the inter-Korean relations, and because of the frequent changes in the Navy's stance over the truth and attempts at concealing vital information during the early stage of investigation.
● The following approach is recommended to remove all misunderstanding and controversy during the fact-finding process for the cause of the sinking.
- First, it is necessary to prove whether the vessel sank because of an external underwater explosion based on apparent evidence. At the same time, a thorough investigation is needed on the various possibilities of the sinking due including running around or colliding, also based on apparent evidence. By doing so, all the doubts or presumption can be clearly removed that the government approached the investigation with prejudgement.
- Once the result shows that the explosion was caused by a torpedo, then the subsequent investigation should prove that North Korea is behind the explosion, beyond any doubt backed by clear evidence.
- If the subsequent investigation proves that the explosion was caused by a torpedo then the next step is to prove that North Korea is behind the "torpedo explosion", also based on sure evidence without any doubts.
● PSPD expected that the pertaining defense authorities to release the results of the investigation befitting the above-stated approach.
3. PSPD's Brief Evaluation of the Final Report released by the Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group (JIG) on the Cheonan Incident
● The final report by the JIG on May 20, 2010 stated that the Cheonan's sinking was the result of a non-contact explosion that had occurred approximately 3m left of the gas turbine room at a depth of about 6 to 9m caused by a North Korean CHT-02D torpedo presumably fired by a North Korean submarine, a 130 ton YONO class.
● However, there are still many questions that went unanswered and the contents of the final report contained many loopholes and evidence is still lacking to conclude that the sinking was the result of a torpedo attack despite several pieces of information reported by President Lee Myung-bak and the JIG from the Ministry of Defense. Especially, the contents of the final report were different or changed from the interim results reported by the government or those reported to the National Assembly. Thus, the final report cannot be used to fully answer those questions raised during the process of investigation.
● The Ministry of Defense has failed to logically elaborate the actual relationship among various facts by not publically disclosing the basic information such as the wake record behind the ship, the contents of communication at the time of the accident, survivors' testimonies and so on. The explanation over the infiltration of a North Korean submarine presumed to have fired a torpedo is not convincing enough because it had been drawn upon presumptions.
● The bigger issue is the fact the final report was made without investigating the crucial vessel parts and structures that had been affected by sound waves from a torpedo such as the diesel engine and gas turbine room and without completing the simulation on the explosion. Thus, the government while trying to meet the schedule has brought criticism upon itself that the conclusion is not complete. Then, the question goes as to whether there has been any political motivation behind releasing the final results in hurry without completing the investigation.
● The evidence on a torpedo attack proposed by the JIG lacks convincing rationale and the same goes to the explanation over the infiltration of a North Korean submarine. The ROK military showed a torpedo shooter and a screw, both of which had been well-preserved beyond understanding. However, it has failed to show or proving other related evidences with convincing power including (1) the vessel that damaged by a torpedo beyond any doubt, (2) soldiers for that matter, and (3) any records or images related with the incident. Moreover, the military is just increasing doubts by changing the explanation over the facts.
● In other words, it would be difficult to conclude that the pieces of a torpedo, which was presented by the Ministry of Defense, presumed to be of North Korean's and oxidized aluminum substances are the vital evidence and that the real truth has been found beyond any doubt. The report released on May 20, 2010 has numerous limitations in silencing all the doubts and distrust piled up due to the censoring and changing of information by the Ministry of Defense on the cause of the Cheonan sinking.
4. Problems related with the Counter-Measures decided by President Lee Myung-bak after the JIG Final Report
● In its official statement on the same day, PSPD has asserted that additional investigation is a must for the JIG report on May 20 to gain understanding and support from Korean people and an bipartisan investigation must be conducted by the National Parliament members, not an investigation team under control of the military who had monopolized and censored the information regarding the Cheonan incident. PSPD also urged that the government refrain from taking a conclusive stance and announcing measures that could provoke serious political and diplomatic controversies domestically and internationally until the National Assembly has completed the fact-finding process.
● However, the Lee adminstration has not listened to the reasonable aforementioned proposals. Instead, President Lee and the Lee administration convened a meeting of the National Security Council on May 21, 2010 to discuss sanctions against North Korea. On May 24, President Lee held an address to nation and declared "stern measures" against North Korea including terminating of the North-South agreement on usages of sea routes, suspending all trade and exchanges between the South and the North, changing the South's military posture from passive defense to proactive deterrence including resuming of propaganda broadcasting toward North Korea and exercising of the right to self-defense in case of the North's military violations, strengthening strategic power and military drills against submarines, referring the matter to the UN Security Council and so on. The President Lee also urged North Korea for apology and punishment of those responsible for the incident.
● North Korea is strongly detesting the Lee administration's report and the follow-up measures. On May 20, North Korea denied its involvement in statement of the National Defense Committee and demanded the evidence to a team of North Korean inspectors to be dispatched to South Korea. When South Korea refused to heed their demands, North Korea announced in its statement through the Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland that all the inter-Korean relations issues arising in the future will be handled under a wartime law and "if the South were to respond with actions and retaliation, it will take resolute measures without any mercy including severing all ties with South Korea, abrogating the agreement on non-aggression between the South and the North and completely abandoning all forms of inter-Korean cooperation. Commander of North Korean Central Command asserted that it will directly point, shoot, and destroy if South Korea were to start a new form of psychological propagandas against the North.
● As a result, South-North confrontation is worsening toward military tensions on the Korean peninsula to the verge of war.
5. PSPD's Recommendations
● PSPD strongly urges the Lee Myung-bak administration and the North Korean government to stop any provocative with holding safety of the people on the Korean peninsula as collateral and military remarks and actions holding the people of the Korean Peninsula hostage.
● PSPD also strongly urges the Lee administration of South Korea proceed additional investigations to supplement the incomplete investigation of the Cheonan incident, and stop aggressive diplomatic measures that could deepen political and military conflicts in the South and on the Korean Peninsula until Korean people are convinced with the explanation.
● Especially, the measures announced by the Lee administration on May 24 not only abrogate the South-North agreement on maritime transportation but also contain dangerous measures that can basically ruin the Korean people's rights to peaceful living. Thus, these measures should been chosen after careful and sufficient deliberation and review, after the release of the investigation results that can be acceptable to politicians of both ruling and opposition parties and the people of Korea.
● Based on the aforementioned perspectives, PSPD raises the following eight questions that must be answered for the Korean government and politicians of the ruling and opposition parties to find the real truth behind the Cheonan incident.
Question 1. Had been really a torpedo-induced water column?
Question 2. No such severe injuries evident of a torpedo explosion found in the bodies of survivors and deceased soldiers
Question 3. Is it true that there is no TOD recordings from the early stage of the Cheonan incident?
Question 4. There are no severe damages evident of an explosion on the severed surface, on the bottom of the ship and in the interior of the hull.
Question 5. Why the military concealed the finding and refloating of the gas turbine room? And why did they omit the investigation of the gas turbine room from investigating?
Question 6. Were the oxidized aluminum substances, not gun powder, evident of an explosion?
Question 7. What is the profile of the YONO class submarine? Is it understandable that the submarine had not been followed for several days by the ROK and the U.S. surveillance?
Question 8. Why couldn't a torpedo launch be detected?
This document summarizes the questions raised by the Center for Peace and Disarmament of People's Solidarity for Perspiratory Democracy (PSPD) on the report released on May 20, 2010 by the joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) under the Ministry of Defense on the cause of sinking of the naval warship Cheonan.
1. Summary of the Report by the Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group(JIG)
◯ The Official Results of the JIG (May 20, 2010)
: The PCC Cheonan was believed to have sunken as the ship cut in half due to a strong underwater explosion at the lower left side of the gas turbine room. The site of explosion was approximately 3m left of the gas turbine room at a depth of 6 to 9m. The weapon was confirmed to be a highly explosive CHT-02D torpedo made by North Korea with an explosion warhead of 250kg.
◯ Explosion Due to an Underwater Bubble Jet
● The ship severely deformed toward the top side: The hull and iron sheets were curved inward, the evidence of strong shock waves and bubble detected.
● Detection of a water column
● Partial computer simulation showed the ship cut in half under a similar situation
● Evidence of pressure and bubbles resulted from a torpedo explosion found in the entire hull of the ship
● The found non-crystalline oxidized aluminum substances believed to have come from a high temperature and high pressure explosion.
◯ A Torpedo Attack from a North Korean Submarine
● The torpedo parts discovered by a dredging ship at the site of the explosion on May 15 have the same schematics of a North Korean torpedo on the export brochure published by North Korea. This heavyweight HT-02D torpedo manufactured by North Korea utilizing acoustic/wake homing and passive acoustic tracking methods has 21 inches in diameter and weighs 1.7 tons with a net explosive weight of up to 250kg.
● The hangul "1번" (number 1 in English) handwritten inside of the tail end of the propeller is the same marking found in a North Korean torpedo for military exercise purposes secured by the South Korean military in 2003.
● It was confirmed that a SANGO class (300ton) submarine and a YONO class (130ton) midget submarine left a North Korean base/port in the West Sea two or three days before the attack and returned back to the port two or three days after attacking the Cheonan warship. Among these two, the YONO class was believed to have been responsible for the attack of the Cheonan vessel.
● These North Korean submarines were presumed to have infiltrated and left the South Korean waters via international seas.
● The analysis on the chemicals found adhering to both the torpedo parts and the hull revealed to be oxidized aluminum substances that resulted from a torpedo explosion.
2. Insufficient Evidence Proving a Torpedo Attack
Question 1.
Had been really a torpedo-induced water column?
● The Ministry of Defense stated in its final report that a water column coming from the bubble-jet effect was present. However, it had reported that no water column was detected. The problem is that the changed findings lack convincing power.
● The joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) claimed that a water column caused by a torpedo was present based on the findings (1) a lookout at the coast of Baengnyeong-do Island reported to have witnessed a 20-30m wide and 100m tall water column, (2) a port-side lookout reported that he felt water drops on his face, and (3) oxidised aluminum substances to have come from a bubble jet were found on the entire hull including the bow and the stern turret.
● The findings, which the water column had left marks on the entire hull including the bow and the stern but only water-drops on the solider's face, are not convincing enough. The survivors including the port-side lookouts testified during the press conference that there was no water column and no smell of gunpowder.
● The Defense Minister when questioned by the National Assembly immediately after the release of the final results stated that the existence of a water column is not important and a simulation on water column will be completed in July.
Question 2.
No such severe injuries evident of a torpedo explosion found in the bodies of survivors and deceased soldiers
● No explosion-related injuries were found in the bodies of the surviving and dead soldiers such as burns, ruptures of internal organs such as the eardrum, and severe fractures, etc.
● No such injuries were found on the bodies of the dead soldiers found very near the site of presumed explosion. And it is not understandable that the final report had no explanation over this important matter.
● The water where the Cheonan incident had occurred is known to be one of the abundant fishing grounds, but the coast guards on the search mission reported no massive death of fish despite the explosion. Although the Ministry of Defense claimed that it was because of fast tides, the water was still at the time of the incident.
Question 3.
Is it true that there is no TOD recordings from the early stage of the Cheonan incident?
● The military had hidden the existence of the TOD (thermal observation device) that recorded the sea scenes from Baengnyeong-do Island including the process of Cheonan sinking and reported finally that no TOD recordings were present at the time when the ship severed into two. However, navy retirees reported that TOD images are recorded automatically and refuted that there would be no blind spots because several TOD devices record the same area at the same time.
● The media including the daily newspaper Hankyoreh reported the testimonies of unanimous witnesses who had seen the TOD images recorded at the time of the ship severing into half. They stated that the Cheonan warship was sailing smoothly and suddenly broke off into half, then the stern sank less than 5 minutes after breaking off and the bow floated about 20 minutes and started to sink after it had suddenly tilted toward the right. They also stated that there had not been a water column.
● National Assembly person Lee Jung-hee of Democratic Labor Party reported the similar findings at the National Assembly during the general discussion session on May 19, 2010.
Question 4.
There are no severe damages evident of an explosion on the severed surface, on the bottom of the ship and in the interior of the hull.
● More than anything else, no evidence indicative of severe damages presumed to have been caused by shock waves of a torpedo explosion has been found on the severed surface. The severed surface partially opened to the public seemed well-preserved compared to other ships damaged by torpedo attacks. Even those ammunitions and goods/articles found from the hull interior were well-organized.
● In the interim reports and the final report on May 20, the military announced that (1) an underwater explosion was highly likely based on the torn shape and (2) the ship sank as the result of a non-contact explosion since there had not been blackened soot coming from an explosion from the interior or exterior of the ship, no evidence of melting from heat and no punctured spots. However, experts refuted that these findings themselves are the specific evidence that the cause was not from a torpedo explosion.
● The Ministry of Defense stating that no punctures form after the breakage from a bubble jet is not convincing enough to explain a proximal explosion.
● Lee Jong-in, CEO of Alpha Underwater Technology Corporation specializing in ship wreckage recovery refuted the findings by the Ministry that breakage from an explosion would smash severed surface in the direction sustaining the explosive force, the severed surface would be damaged up to the point of no recognition, and no electric wires would be left being obliterated.
● He also pointed out that (1) if the torpedo explosion occurred 3m below the bottom of the ship, the ship bottom should show punctures from the explosion and the ship would be full of shattered torpedo pieces, and (2) the severed surface of the Cheonan is characteristic of physical forces rather than an explosion or proximal explosion.
Question 5.
Why the military concealed the finding and refloating of the gas turbine room? And why did they omit the investigation of the gas turbine room from investigating?
● The Ministry of Defense later confirmed the recovery of the gas turbine room, which was missed on the incident, after a civilian testified the recovery on May 18.
● The Ministry asserted that a torpedo with a net explosive power between 200 to 300 kg had exploded approximately 3m left of the bottom center of the gas turbine room. And civilian experts who had considered the possibility of aground or collision pointed out that the gas turbine room would show evidences. Thus, the gas turbine room is the critical evidence that can show the real cause of the Cheonan sinking. Nonetheless, the military tried to hide the recovery and omitted the investigation result at the time of the final report.
● According to the reports by the military, the diesel engine was recovered around mid May, and the gas turbine room was recovered on May 19 and carried to the 2nd Fleet Headquarters on May 20. In other words, investigation on the gas turbine room had not been reflected on the final report.
● Nonetheless, the military reported the final results on May 20, arguing that the findings were sufficient. Coincidentally, campaigns for local elections kicked off on that date. It is suspicious that the military investigation team and the Lee government may have reported the investigation results with undue haste with certain political goals.
● The JIG disclosed some parts of the recovered gas turbine room in pictures after May 31.
Question 6.
Were the oxidized aluminum substances, not gun powder, evident of an explosion?
● According to the media, the military was focusing on finding evidence of gun powder at the time of investigation. The military investigation team reported the finding of little trace of highly explosive substances such as RDX and HMX but did not claim that they are evident of a torpedo attack because they were present in very minute amounts and are used by both the Eastern and Western blocks.
● Instead, the investigation team laid out oxidized aluminum substances as the circumstantial evidence of a torpedo explosion, and reported that these substances were discovered in eight places of the hull and similar substances were found in the North Korean torpedo parts recovered. They reported that these non-crystalline (white powder) oxidized aluminum substances are formed only at high pressure such as a torpedo explosion.
● However, based on the findings that (1) these substances were discovered on the hull composed of aluminum parts but not on other metal parts or the bodies of the crew and (2) a large quantity of oxidized aluminum was present especially on the aluminum screw, doubts have been raised by civilian experts. Some citizens showed pictures of similar oxidized substances from their own motorboat screws, raising doubts that this oxidized substance could just be of oxidized aluminum.
● They also raised the doubt over the minute amount of explosives (RDX, HMX, TNT) detected in the Cheonan warships. The doubt is that the amount of explosives found on the Cheonan is as small as that can be found in other ordinary warships, even though the amount of those explosives is more than that of aluminum in the composition of torpedo explosives.
● Furthermore, a thick layer of aluminum in large quantity covered the torpedo screw discovered but it is beyond common sense that the screw was well-preserved without damage, and it is difficult to understand that the "1번" mark handwritten with a oil pen on the propulsion section of the presented torpedo was well-preserved.
● A National Assembly person, a Democratic Party member, Choi Moon-soon raised a question based on the opinion of Professor Lee Seung-heon, one of the Physics professors at the University of Virginia, which oxidized aluminum discovered in the hull and North Korean torpedo parts was not come from an explosion.
3. Lack of evidence showing the attack was from a North Korean submarine
Question 7.
What is the profile of the YONO class submarine? Is it understandable that the submarine had not been followed for several days by the ROK and the U.S. surveillance?
● The Ministry of Defense is assuming that the attack was from a YONO class submarine. The only ground for assumption is that the South Korean military failed to follow up a SANG-O class submarine and a YONO class submarine along with their mother ship from a North Korean naval base for several days.
● There is no evidence, in other words, there is no specific explanation over how the North Korean YONO class submarine attacked the Cheonan. However, the explanation is just one hypothesis after another.
● The military explained that 300ton or heavier SANG-O class submarines could not be operated at the site of the Cheonan incident because of its big size and they do not have the capability to shoot heavy torpedoes.
● That was why the military presumed that a YONO class submarine was the culprit behind the Cheonan sinking. The YONO class around 120 to 130 ton submarine is smaller than the SANG-O class, in which the existence of this smaller class was reported for the first time through the final report of the investigation. However, doubts are raised because the military is mute about whether this class is capable to launch heavy torpedoes, how long they can stay in underwater, etc.
● However, the YONO class (midget) submarine is another name for the GHARDIR class owned by Iran and it is not known whether North Korea has YONO class submarines. It is confirmed that North Korea had exported YUGO class midget submarines to Iran. YUGO class submarines and P-4 class similar to the YUGO class are not capable or have limited capability to shoot heavy torpedoes.
● The Defence Minister reported on May 22 that the government had known about the existence of the YONO class submarines since 2005. However, he stated on April 2 during the report to the National Assembly that North Korea submarines does not have much underwater navigation capabilities like latest US submarines. He also stated that two submarines were not found at one of three naval bases of North Korea. However, he estimated the possibility low since the naval base is quite far from Bangryung-do. In addition, he repeatedly denied the possibility since the submarines are of low-speed type and they do not have capability of long-lasting submerge.
Question 8.
Why couldn't a torpedo launch be detected?
● Even if the navy could not have followed North Korean submarines with sonar, it lacks convincing power that the they could not detect an approaching torpedo with sonar because it is known that an approaching torpedo is very easy to detect with sonar.
● On this issue, the military had claimed that the Cheonan's sonar system was old so that it had only 70% accuracy in detecting torpedoes in 2Km radius and only around 50% in the 30m shallow water at the scene of the incident.
● It is also doubtful over the fact that the North Korean submarine that had probably been dispatched after the sinking of the Cheonan had escaped without being detected even by the P3C patrol aircraft equipped with advanced radars.
4. Others
● There are several other questions but PSPD keeps eyes on the process of the accreditation conducted by the National Assembly, then it will raise unanswered issues.
Problem1. The military not disclosing and censoring basic information on the Cheonan vessel
Problem2. Hiding of the TOD video-recordings of the Cheonan breaking into half and sinking and changing of words
Problem3. Imposing political and legal measures and restrictions against ordinary citizens raising doubts
Problem4. The JIG practically excluding civilians
Problem5. The JIG that limited investigative efforts by civilian members
Problem6. Unknown roles of the foreign investigators
1. Objectives
● Despite the JIG final report on the cause of the Cheonan sinking on May 20, there are still many questions and doubts regarding the cause of the Cheonan sinking.
● Questions and doubts are being raised because the final report lacks credibility and partly because the military itself maintained no transparency and excluded others in the investigation process and method and forming and operation of the JIG.
● During the process of investigation the cause of the Cheonan sinking, the Lee administration and the military have shown the abuse of serious security power far from the basic principle of the civil democracy control such as (1) monopoly on information and misuse/abuse of military secretes, (2) non-disclosure, selective disclosure and disclosure at convenience of vital information, (3) abuse of legal restrictions to those people raising doubts.
● Thus, PSPD once again points out the problems that have arisen during the investigation of the Cheonan incident.
2. Problems with the military in censoring information and selective disclosure of information
Problem 1.
The military not disclosing and censoring basic information on the Cheonan vessel
● The Ministry of Defense has refuged all the requests by PSPD on the releasing of information on 16 items in 4 areas including the communication records and navigation routes of the Cheonan, according the Information Act, to determine the cause of the sinking clearly and objectively.
● The government and the military did not disclose or claimed that there was no record of basic information including the navigation routes, daily logs and records, KNTDS, TOD images of the sinking, and the broken surface and hull bottom immediately after recovery, stating that they are "military secretes"
● More seriously, they disclosed the severed surface and damaged parts critical to investigation immediately after recovery only partially so that the extent of real damage could not been determined.
● Testimonies by the survivors were limitedly disclosed through a press conference in the controlled environment.
● The military could have released the pertinent information transformed into a form of non-classified documents, and even if they were classified, it is very important to resolve any doubts for proving the attack by North Korea; however, it had not disclosed most of the documents by expanding the scope of national secretes.
● On the other hand, it had selectively disclosed the information on the information supporting the military's claim regardless of the information being classified.
● As a result, the people of Korea cannot know the basic information on the Cheonan incident such as what was the mission of the warship, where it was heading, where did it sink, how it sank, etc.
Problem 2.
Hiding of the TOD image-recordings of the Cheonan breaking into half and sinking and changing of words
● The military initially had claimed that there was no TOD images, but partially released these images three times on March 30, April 1 and April after refutation by military retirees. However, it did not release the TOD images at the time of the incident and claimed that the released images are all it had every time.
● However, reports followed later that there are no blind spots in taking TOD images because they are taken automatically, and the media reported testimonies from unanimous informants that they have seen images at the time of the incident. National Assembly person Lee Jung-hee also spoke of the same thing at the National Assembly.
● According to testimonies of unanimous witnesses, the Cheonan was sailing with no problem but suddenly broke into half after which the stern sank in five minutes and the bow after floating about 20 minutes on water suddenly tilted toward the right and started to sink. They said that there was no water column.
● Several military officers sued National Assembly person Lee for defamation. However, additional TOD images were released on May 30, claiming that the images were taken after 40 seconds of the incident. There had not been any apology for perjury and they claimed that the suit is still effective against the assembly member.
Problem 3.
Imposing political and legal measures and restrictions against ordinary citizens raising doubts
● The military also sued Dr. Park Sung-won, a former NSC(National Security Council) member and currently researcher at Brookings Institute in the US), who had raised doubts over a torpedo attack, and Shin Snag-cheol, civil member of the JIG recommended by Democratic Party are the representative cases of the government restricting those raising doubts against the Cheonan incident for defamation.
● The military also made a series of suits against ordinary citizens who raised the possibility of the Cheonan colliding with a US ship on the Internet.
● On the other hand, Asian studies scholar Kim Yong-ok, who lectured that he could not believe the investigative results released by the military and North Korea would be mortified if it were to be innocent, has been sued by a few conservative citizens based on National Security Law.
3. Problems with the JIG
Problem 4.
The JIG practically excluding civilians
● The list of the members of the joint civilian-military investigation group (JIG) that was put into investigation of the Cheonan incident on April 1 were not released from the beginning.
● When civilian organizations including PSPD raised issues with not involving civilians in the JIG, President Lee Myung-bak ordered to change the head of the JIG to a civilian on April 6 and KAIST honorary professor Yoon Duk-yong was appointed to head the JIG on April 11. However, no practically improvement was made even after this change.
● Despite the fact that the JIG naming 'civilian-military', it is not known where these civilians affiliated to and who exerted influence. The only information released by the media was that the JIG is composed of some 20 to 30 members and most of the so-called civilians were a former military serviceman, a former researcher of a military research center, or an executive of a shipbuilding company in the defense industry.
● It is not known that the number of members the JIG was composed with, but saying around 130 to 150 members.
Problem 5.
The JIG that limited investigative efforts by civilian members
● Shin Sang-cheol (recommended by Democratic Party) who revealed the status of JIG member on his own detested that the JIG did not provide even briefing materials and basic information needed for investigation such as the navigation course record, KNTDS, and the TOD records.
● He testified that the investigation was conducted based on the assumption that there had been a torpedo attack while excluding other possibilities from the consideration and no investigations were conducted for other possibilities.
● It means that the military conducted the investigation according to its plan and intention if civilian members' activities had been restricted.
Problems 6.
Unknown roles of the foreign investigators
● The JIG had been criticized for lacking transparency and independence so that the Lee administration revealed that it had requested four countries including the US to dispatch investigators (24 total) to join the JIG's efforts.
● However, there had not been official announcement from the government on the specific mission and roles of these foreign investigators.
● Thomas Eccles, head of the US investigators, agreed to all the results of the JIG investigation disclosed during the press conference. He stated that the investigation was done in close cooperation between Korea and the U.S. and agreed to it had been conducted based on testimonies and scientific analyses. However, he dodged the questions on the specific roles of foreign investigators. And General Park Jung-e who had been present at the press conference added that the results released on the day had been agreed by all foreign investigators.
● However, within his statement, it is not certain whether the foreign members had participated as observers or whether they played a more active role in fact-finding and finding the cause of sinking. Especially, there had not been any explanation on the roles of these foreign members in providing specific and vital analysis and information such as securing evidence of North Korean torpedo attack and the course charted by North Korean submarines or they just shared the investigation results proposed by the South Korean military. Thus, it is difficult to determine whether foreign investigators are an important group having the power to decide credibility of the investigation or not.
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