Final Report Confirms Cheonan Findings

The final report of an international inquiry into the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan published Monday morning confirms the earlier conclusion that a North Korean CHT-02D torpedo was responsible for the attack.

The final report repeats the conclusion of a mid-term report in May that the Cheonan sunk after being split in half by an underwater explosion and the resulting bubble jet effect from a torpedo attack and that the underwater explosion occurred around 3 m to the left of the gas turbine room at a depth of between 6 to 9 m.

"The weapon was confirmed to be a North Korean CHT-02D torpedo manufactured and used in North Korea containing 250 kg of high explosives," it added.

Based on seven tests by the International Maritime Organization, the report rules out alternative theories that a floating or submerged mine or a small torpedo modified from a mine placed near Baeknyeong Island during the 1970s was responsible.

Investigators from four countries -- Australia, Sweden, the U.K., and the U.S. -- signed the report. The findings of a brief investigation by Russian experts were not included.