N. Korea Suspected After S. Korean Navy Ship Sinks

A South Korean naval ship has sunk after an explosion that may have been caused by a North Korean torpedo. The 1,500-ton ship began to founder near the border with North Korea; the US military confirmed the sinking. A South Korean ship later fired on an unidentified vessel, indicating a possible attack, Yonhap News reports. The incident prompted an emergency meeting of South Korea’s security-related cabinet members.

“The ship appears to have begun sinking after an explosion at the rear of the ship,” the South Korean navy said in a statement. “We have been unable to find the exact cause of the incident as of this moment.” At least 59 of the ship’s 104 crew members were rescued, but it appears others have been killed or are missing. (More North Korea stories.)