Negative Blogs

North Korea is being probed for possible war crimes committed by its military, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced Monday.

“The office of the prosecutor has received communications alleging that North Korean forces committed war crimes in the territory of the Republic of Korea,” it said in a statement on the court’s website.

“The prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, confirmed that the office has opened a preliminary examination to evaluate if some incidents constitute war crimes under the jurisdiction of the court.”

Prosecutors said the preliminary examination would look into the rogue state’s conduct with respect to two deadly attacks on South Korean territory and interests this year.

The most recent attack was the Nov. 23 shelling by North Korea’s forces of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island that resulted in several deaths and many injuries.

ICC prosecutors also cited the March 26 sinking of a South Korean warship by a torpedo allegedly fired from a North Korean submarine. That attack killed 46 South Korean sailors.

The prosecutor’s office said the preliminary examination would determine if the criteria have been met for opening an investigation.

Top U.S. soldier to visit South Korea

In Seoul, South Korean military and defence officials are preparing for a visit later this week by the top U.S. military officer.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, is to meet Wednesday with senior South Korean defence officials to let them know that the U.S. continues to stand by them.

It’s the latest indication that Washington is increasingly concerned by the tense situation in the Korean pensinsula.

The White House said President Barack Obama called Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday night to discuss North Korea and urge China to use its influence to rein in its provacative ally.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also met in Washington on Monday with her Japanese and South Korean counterparts to discuss the North Korean situation.

She said they shared concerns about what she called “provocative attacks from North Korea.”

By cbc.ca

Smoke raises from South Korea's Yeonpyeong island on Nov. 23. The International Criminal Court announced Monday it will investigate North Korea for possible war crimes for its role in the shelling and for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March. (Yonhap/Associated Press)