Asia-Pacific

DPRK proposes joint-group with US to probe warship sinking

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-10 21:24

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday proposed a joint inspection group with the US to investigate the sinking of the South Korean warship "Cheonan" in late March, the official KCNA news agency reported.

The DPRK put forward the proposal in the fourth round of the DPRK-US colonel-level military working contact, the report said.

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According to the KCNA, the contact, held in Panmunjom Tuesday, was preparing for the DPRK-US general-level talks.

The DPRK proposed a Korean People's Army (KPA)-US joint inspection group to "probe into the truth behind the Cheonan case."

It suggested the heads of the joint inspection group from the two sides should be high-ranking general-level officers appointed by the KPA and the US forces.

The group, to be made up of 20 to 30 members from each side, might work for 3-5 days or "a necessary period if the inspection was extended."

The investigation would include the scene of the incident, the salvaged warship, witnesses, material evidence and relevant objects, the DPRK said in the proposal.

"All possible methods, including field investigation, analysis of material evidence, hearing from witnesses and analysis of data shall be employed to the maximum." Meanwhile the US side should "provide conveniences such as the provision of all the data requested by the KPA and guarantee of the overland passage and personal security of its members," the proposal said.