Seoul: China's president offered
condolences on Friday to the families of 46 South Koreans killed
in a warship blast near the tense inter-Korean border, as
ships searched for any signs the North was to blame.
President Hu Jintao expressed sympathy before summit
talks with President Lee Myung-Bak on the sidelines of the
opening of the Shanghai World Expo.
"I also want to address the tragic loss of your
country's warship. To those who died and to their families,
please let them know we grieve with them," Hu said, according
to a Chinese pool report.
Lee's spokesman has said the sinking was expected to
be raised.
China, North Korea's sole major ally and its key
source of food and energy, is seen as one of the few nations
able to put pressure on the North.
A mystery explosion ripped a 1,200-tonne South Korean
corvette the Cheonan apart on March 26 near the disputed
border.
South Korea has not openly blamed its communist
neighbour but suspicions of a North Korean torpedo attack are
growing.
Further souring relations, the North today ordered
some 40 South Korean staff to leave a jointly-run mountain
resort in protest at Seoul's refusal to restart lucrative
tours there.
PTI
First Published: Friday, April 30, 2010, 20:08