Intl court declines to investigate North Korean crimes in sinking of South Korean ship

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has declined to launch an investigation into possible war crimes or crimes against humanity by North Korea in the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship and the shelling of a South Korean island.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Monday she determined after “a thorough factual and legal analysis of the information available” that the incidents didn’t merit an investigation for now.

Her office began a preliminary examination in December 2010 in response to complaints from South Korean students and citizens.

Bensouda said in a statement that the attack on the warship Cheonan “was directed at a lawful military target” and wouldn’t meet the definition of a war crime. In addition, the shelling of Yeonpyeong island did not appear to primarily target civilians.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.