Headline PH: Leaders of SKorea, Japan, China head to summit

SEOUL, South Korea – Top military commanders gathered in Seoul on Saturday to discuss how to counter North Korean provocations, as leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan headed to the southern island of Jeju for a summit amid tensions over the sinking of a warship blamed on Pyongyang.

International pressure is mounting on North Korea over the sinking of the Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors in late March in one of the South's worst military disasters since the 1950-53 Korean War. A multinational team of investigators said last week that evidence proved a North Korean torpedo sank the warship.

North Korea has denied responsibility, and has warned that any retaliation or punishment would mean war.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who has pledged to take North Korea to the U.N. Security Council, sought backing from key permanent member China, the North's main ally.

Laying out the investigation results, Lee urged Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during talks Friday to play an "active role" in convincing North Korea to admit its wrongdoing, the presidential Blue House said.

Wen told Lee that his country "will defend no one" responsible for the sinking, Lee's office said.

Beijing will determine its stance after examining the investigation results, Wen told Lee, according to a briefing by presidential adviser Lee Dong-kwan.

The three-way summit on Jeju Island is to focus on economic issues such as a proposed free-trade agreement.

However, South Korean officials said the ship sinking would be at the top of the agenda at the two-day talks, which end Sunday.

By SANGWON YOON,
Associated Press Writer

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