By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter
After investigators confirmed that an external explosion was responsible for the sinking of the Navy frigate Cheonan, Friday, North Korea broke its silence on the incident stating that South Korea was being less than honest about the affair.
According to Open Radio for North Korea, a private radio station based in Seoul, the North Korean Workers' Party told its members during a recent meeting that the Cheonan incident was a plot against the North orchestrated by the South.
Quoting an anonymous source, the radio reported that the North Korean ruling party was accusing the South, saying, ``South Korea is trying to maintain tension with the North by manipulating the situation.''
Radio Free Asia reported on April 7 that the North Korean military had sent a letter of instruction to regional commands and divisions, indicating a response by force to any ``continued accusations.''
The South Korean investigators announced that the explosion was external but didn't specify the cause.
Former President Kim Young-sam also reportedly said Friday, ``I presume the crisis was caused by North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-il.''
The stern of the Cheonan was salvaged Thursday, and 36 of the missing sailors' bodies were recovered, leaving eight unaccounted for.
![[INTERVIEW] 'Money Heist: Korea' writer feels satisfied to expand series' franchise](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/e264f8d5589442489d72f9494ca3f1c7.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
