코리아헤럴드

The international community including South Korea's allies Thursday backed the result of Seoul's probe into what caused its warship to sink in March, denouncing North Korea's act as "unacceptable" and "unforgivable."

China, North Korea's close ally, however, struck a slightly different note, stopping short of supporting Seoul in the growing dispute.

U.S.: 'unacceptable' behaviorThe United States on Wednesday denounced North Korea for the tragic sinking of a South Korean warship, urging the North to stop provocations that further isolate the reclusive communist state.

In a statement issued just an hour after South Korea announced the outcome of an international probe into the sinking of the Cheonan, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said North Korea's provocations are unacceptable.

A multinational team concluded that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine destroyed the South Korean ship in the March 26 attack that killed 46 sailors.

"The report issued today by the team of international investigators reflects an objective and scientific review of the evidence," Gibbs said. "It points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that North Korea was responsible for this attack."

The spokesman urged the North to stop its provocations.

"North Korea must understand that belligerence towards its neighbors and defiance of the international community are signs of weakness, not strength," he said. "Such unacceptable behavior only deepens North Korea's isolation. It reinforces the resolve of its neighbors to intensify their cooperation to safeguard peace and stability in the region against all provocations."　

Japan: 'unforgivable' attack 　Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Thursday North Korea's sinking of a South Korean naval ship was "unforgivable" after an investigation concluded the communist regime was to blame.

"Our country strongly supports South Korea," he said in a statement read out by his chief spokesman Hirofumi Hirano. "The North Korean action is unforgivable and we strongly condemn it, with the international community."

A multinational investigation panel concluded Thursday that a North Korean submarine fired a torpedo that sank a South Korean warship with the loss of 46 lives on March 26 near the disputed maritime border.

Hatoyama also gave an assurance of his support for South Korea on Wednesday in a telephone conversation with President Lee Myung-Bak, the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement. 　

China: ship loss 'unfortunate'　China said Thursday that the sinking of a South Korean warship that Seoul blames on North Korea was "unfortunate," but stopped short of backing Seoul in the growing dispute.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai refused to comment further on the incident, instead reiterating China's long-standing views on the need to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula.

China is North Korea's biggest backer, and the sinking of the warship Cheonan in March with the loss of 46 sailors overshadowed a trip earlier this month to China by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Beijing is wary of any response that could destabilize Kim's regime and spark a crisis along its northeastern border.　

Britain: findings 'correct'　Britain on Thursday slammed North Korea's "blatant disregard of international obligations" after an investigation concluded one of its submarines sank a South Korean warship with the loss of 46 lives.

"The attack demonstrates a total indifference to human life and a blatant disregard of international obligations," said Foreign Secretary William Hague in a statement.

"The DPRK (North Korea)'s actions will deepen the international community's mistrust," he added.

British experts, who formed part of the multinational investigation team, were "in no doubt" that the findings of the investigation into the March 26 sinking were correct, said Hague.

"They have been impressed with the objectivity and rigor of the investigative work," said the foreign minister.

"The U.K. experts are in no doubt as to the veracity of the investigation's findings."

The investigators concluded that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine sank the South Korean warship near the disputed maritime border, in their report released Thursday.　

Australia: 'deplorable' incident　Australia on Thursday strongly condemned North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean warship, calling it a "hostile and unprovoked act" that deserved an international response.

"Australia condemns North Korea for the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan on 26 March with the loss of 46 lives," Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said, after South Korean investigators found a North Korean submarine was responsible.

"This hostile and unprovoked act represents a flagrant violation by North Korea of the United Nations Charter and the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement," added Rudd, calling the incident "deplorable" and describing the key findings as "deeply disturbing."

"The international community cannot let this act pass without an appropriate response," he said.　

U.N.: Outcome 'deeply troubling'The results of an investigation that concluded North Korea sank a South Korean warship, killing 46, are "deeply troubling," U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

"The secretary-general has learned of the results of the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan naval ship of the Republic of Korea with a heavy heart and serious concern," a statement from his office said.

"The facts laid out in the report are deeply troubling," it added. Ban would continue to closely follow developments, said the statement.

A report issued in Seoul by a multinational team investigating the March 26 sinking of the 1,200-ton Cheonan corvette near the disputed inter-Korean border said the ship was destroyed by a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine.

"There is no other plausible explanation," the report said.

Ban praised South Korea for its "restrained and patient efforts" to investigate the incident "in an objective and scientific manner by both domestic and international experts."

From news reports