SKorea bids farewell to 46 sailors killed in warship sinking near waters disputed with NKorea

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South Korea bids final farewell to 46 navy sailors

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — South Korea honored 46 sailors Thursday with a tearful military funeral a month after a blast sank their warship, and officials vowed retaliation for those responsible as speculation mounted that North Korea may have torpedoed the vessel.

An estimated 2,800 mourners including President Lee Myung-bak attended the outdoor funeral at a navy base south of Seoul for the ceremony as sirens sounded across the country. A somber Lee and his wife placed white chrysanthemums — a traditional flower of mourning in South Korea — burned incense and bowed before the framed photos of the soldiers, while buglers played taps.

Former President President Chun Doo-hwan, lawmakers and military leaders also paid respects. The navy’s chief of staff vowed retaliation for whoever was responsible for the sinking, which is still under investigation.

South Korea has not directly blamed its Cold War-era rival North Korea, but suspicion has focused on Pyongyang given its history of provocations and attacks on the South. South Korea’s defense minister said this week the blast was most likely caused by a torpedo attack.

North Korea has denied any role in the sinking, one of South Korea’s worst naval disasters.

The names of each sailor was read out while Lee, clad in a black suit and tie, placed military decorations on a giant alter below individual photos of each man. They had all been posthumously promoted by one rank in recent days.

Buddhist monks clad in orange and white robes chanted prayers at the interfaith funeral. Roman Catholic priests and Christian pastors also participated. Surviving relatives and other mourners wept. Navy sailors fired a three-volley rifle salute.

The sailors went down with the 1,200-ton Cheonan near the tense western sea border with North Korea on March 26 shortly after it was torn apart by what investigators believe was an underwater blast from outside the ship.

Fifty-eight sailors survived the sinking. The bodies of 40 of the sailors were recovered, while six others remained unaccounted for and are presumed dead. The retrieved bodies were cremated this week.

The funeral took place at the 2nd Fleet headquarters in Pyeongtaek, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) south of Seoul, the Cheonan’s home base. The ceremony was to be followed by burial later Thursday. The events cap five days of official mourning that has mixed outpourings of grief and sympathy with anger at possible North Korean involvement.

The Cheonan was on a routine patrol before it split in two and sank near the disputed western sea border, a scene of three bloody sea battles between the rival Koreas that remain locked in a state of war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce instead of a peace treaty.

Navy Chief of Staff Kim Sung-chan said in a funeral speech that South Korea will find who attacked the Cheonan and retaliate.

“We cannot forgive this and must not forgive it and must not forget it,” Kim said in a solemn voice. “We will never sit idly against whoever inflicted huge pain to our people. ”

Military retaliation against Pyongyang, however, is considered unlikely as it could lead to major conflict and frighten away investors at a time when South Korea is recovering fast from the global financial meltdown and prepares to hold a summit of leaders from the Group of 20 in November.

In Seoul, people at the main railway station, including uniformed soldiers on leave and traveling home, gathered around television screens to pause in remembrance.

Kim Yong-mi wiped away tears with a handkerchief, her eyes red and watery.

“So many died too young,” said Kim, 68. “As someone who’s lived all these years more than they ever will, I’m ashamed to be standing here, alive.”

Flags in South Korea are flying at half-staff and many government buildings in Seoul have hung large black-and-white placards reading, “We will not forget your honorable sacrifice.” An estimated 400,000 people have reportedly visited mourning locations set up across the country to pay respects.

North Korea has waged a slew of attacks against South Korea, including a 1987 downing of a South Korean passenger plane that killed all 115 people on board, one of the reasons the country is suspected of involvement.

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Hyung-jin Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea. Associated Press writers Sangwon Yoon and Kelly Olsen contributed to this report.