hankyoreh

An experimental finding has emerged indicating that, contrary to the announcement of the Defense Ministry’s Civilian-Military Joint Investigation Group (JIG), the adhesive substance found on the Cheonan and a torpedo propeller was not formed by an explosion. This is not something to be taken lightly, as it is scientifically incompatible with the government’s announcement that the Cheonan was attacked with a torpedo launched by a North Korean submarine.
According to a recent report by weekly news magazine Hankyoreh 21 and public broadcaster KBS’s program “In Depth 60 Minutes,” Andong National University Earth and Environmental Science Professor Jeong Gi-young was commissioned by the two news outlets to conduct an analysis of the substance found on the Cheonan. His research used a sample of the substance provided to the Three Press Groups’ Verification Committee of the Results of the Cheonan Investigation by the Defense Ministry through Democratic Labor Party Chairwoman Lee Jung-hee.
In contrast with the JIG, which conducted just five experiments, including X-ray diffraction analysis, Jeong conducted a total of 11 experiments, including those five as well as a scanning electronic microscope analysis. This was a much more rigorous scientific procedure, and the results, according to Jeong, showed that the substance appeared to be Amorphous Aluminum Sulfate Hydroxide Hydrate (AASH), which is produced at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius, rather than aluminum oxide formed under high-temperature explosion conditions, as the JIG announced.
Based on these findings, there is yet another serious flaw in the JIG’s account, which used its own analysis of the substance as a basis for making the connection that the torpedo propeller salvaged at the site of the accident was debris from the very same torpedo that was used to attack the Cheonan. Along with the discovery of a clamshell in pristine condition in a small hole at the back of the propeller, this provides an additional strong basis for questioning the JIG’s findings.
Of course, it would be a leap to come to the absolute conclusion simply on this basis that the cause of the Cheonan’s was not in fact a torpedo by North Korea. What is becoming apparent, however, is that the JIG’s investigation was very hastily conducted and sloppy. These additional findings magnify the need to conduct new scientific analysis for each of the different substances found in various places on the hull.
The Defense Ministry expressed distrust, claiming that Jeong’s analysis did not meet the necessary conditions, such as the sample being opened with representatives from the ministry in attendance. It also said it has no plans to conduct additional experiments.
This attitude from the ministry is problematic. If the ministry simply attempts to bury the questions, this will only lead to further criticism of the JIG and the Lee Myung-bak administration.
Now more than ever, it is necessary to find out the exact truth about the Cheonan’s sinking, no matter how long it takes. One effective means of doing so would be for Jeong and scientists from the JIG to work together to analyze the different substances from the hull one more time. We hope the Defense Ministry will change its stance. It may also be prudent for the National Assembly to take responsibility for supervising the process.
　　
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