page_title: ROKS Cheonan sinking
section_title: Rescue efforts
hierarchical_section_title: ROKS Cheonan sinking / Rescue efforts
caption_attribution_description: English: YELLOW SEA (April 7, 2010) Vice Adm. Kim Jung Du, commander for the Republic of Korea Navy salvage efforts of the sunken ROK Navy ship, and Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, on scene commander of US support to ROK salvage efforts, discuss salvage operations with ROK and US leadership aboard the ROKS Dokdo April 7. USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit Five Platoon 501 are supporting Republic of Korea Navy efforts to salvage a ROK Navy ship which sank Mar. 26. (US Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Denver Applehans)
context_page_description: The ROKS Cheonan sinking occurred on 26 March 2010, when Cheonan, a Pohang-class corvette of the Republic of Korea Navy, carrying 104 personnel, sank off the country's west coast near Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 seamen. The cause of the sinking remains in dispute, although evidence points to North Korea.
  A South Korean-led official investigation carried out by a team of international experts from South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Sweden presented a summary of its investigation on 20 May 2010, concluding that the warship had been sunk by a North Korean torpedo fired by a midget submarine. The conclusions of the report resulted in significant controversy within South Korea. Following the sinking, South Korea imposed sanctions against North Korea, known as the May 24 measures.
  North Korea denied that it was responsible for the sinking. North Korea's further offer to aid an open investigation was disregarded. China dismissed the official scenario presented by South Korea and the United States as not credible. An investigation by the Russian Navy also did not concur with the report.
context_section_description: Initially six South Korean navy and two South Korean coast guard ships assisted in the rescue as well as aircraft from the Republic of Korea Air Force. It was reported on March 27 that hopes of finding the 46 missing crew alive were fading. Survival time in the water was estimated at about two hours and large waves were hampering rescue attempts. After the sinking, President Lee said that recovery of survivors was the main priority. Air was pumped into the ship to keep any survivors alive.
  Over 24 military vessels were involved over course of the search-and-rescue effort, including four U.S. Navy vessels: USNS Salvor, USS Harpers Ferry, USS Curtis Wilbur, and  USS Shiloh.
  On 30 March 2010 it was reported that one South Korean naval diver (ROKN UDT/SEAL CWO Han Ju-ho) had died after losing consciousness while searching for survivors, and another had been hospitalised.
  On 3 April 2010, South Korean officials said that a private fishing boat involved in the rescue operations had collided with a Cambodian freighter, sinking the fishing boat and killing at least two people, with seven reported missing. The same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea said that the body of one of the 46 missing sailors had been found.
  Later on 3 April 2010 South Korea called off the rescue operation for the missing sailors, after families of the sailors asked for the operation to be suspended for fear of further casualties among the rescue divers. The military's focus then shifted towards salvage operations, which were predicted to take up to a month to complete.
caption: Vice Admiral Kim Jung Du, commander for the Republic of Korea Navy salvage efforts, and Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, on scene commander of U.S. support to South Korean salvage efforts, discuss salvage operations aboard the ROKS Dokdo
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