Punishing North Korea

France has joined the chorus of voices calling for North Korea to be punished for a surprise torpedo attack on a South Korean naval ship.

Following the allegations that North Korea fired a torpedo that sank the naval ship 'Cheonan', France's foreign ministry has pledged to back South Korea in its quest to seek punishment through the United Nations Security Council.

Torpedo attack

France's foreign ministry has characterized the attack as "criminal aggression" and ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said that North Korea "should not go unpunished" for the attack.

A multinational investigation found "overwhelming" evidence that a North Korean submarine fired the heavy torpedo which sank the Cheonan near the disputed border, killing 46 South Korean sailors.

Denial and threats

North Korea has labelled the report a "sheer fabrication" and said any attempt at retaliation by South Korea will be met with all-out war.

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak has halted trade with the North in response to the attack, seen in Seoul as the worst provocation since the Korean War.

Support for Seoul has been broad, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon announcing Monday he expected an intervention by the Security Council. Meanwhile, the US is set to begin cooperative anti-submarine drills with the South Korean navy in the near future, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

smh/AFP/dpa
Editor: Rob Turner