As the South Korean government begins an in-depth investigation into the cause of the sinking of the Cheonan, North Korea, in its first public comment, has denied involvement in the destruction of the South Korean vessel, calling such claims part of a “foolish plot.”

Through a number of broadcast sources on radio and television, an unnamed military commentator asserted on April 17th, “The belligerent maniacs of the South Korean puppet military authorities and rightist conservative politicians are foolishly plotting to relate the unfortunate event to us since they cannot identify the real cause of the incident.”

“Our position is that we do not need to react to every ridiculous statement of the traitor party,” it continued, explaining why Pyongyang had not commented on accusations of involvement in the sinking until now.

This response is somewhat different from those that followed the 1983 Aung San bomb attack in Myanmar and the blowing up of KAL Flight 858 in 1987, both of which were later identified as being the responsibility of North Korea. In those cases, Pyongyang denied responsibility three and seven days after the events respectively.

This case appears to have been affected by the fact that the South Korean government suggested that there was no evidence of North Korean involvement during the early stages of the investigation. Speculation is that if North Korean involvement had been suggested in the early stages of the incident, North Korea’s response might have come sooner.

Conversely, North Korea’s finally releasing a statement now is a reaction to the South Korean government’s decision to review the “explosion caused by external impact” hypothesis and recent suggestions that in fact North Korea was responsible alongside talk of possible military or non-military retaliation.

On April 16, Kim Tae Young, South Korea’s Minister of National Defense, said that national security had reached a critical level, and talked of follow-up measures as things to be “deliberated precisely and firmly.” This is likely to have put pressure on North Korea.

On a related note, the broad range of places where North Korea made its announcement, Chosun Central TV, Chosun Central Broadcast and Pyongyang Broadcast, which are all seen and heard by the people of North Korea, unlike the Chosun Central News Agency, for example, is also attracting attention.

This choice on the part of the regime marks the statement out as a measure to strengthen militaristic tension within North Korea, make space for blame to be placed on South Korea and also to distract citizens angered by the failure of government economic policy.

Regarding North Korea’s latest moves, Yoo Ho Yul, a professor from Korea University told The Daily NK, “North Korea must have been preparing its response with one eye on public opinion. Recently, South Korean society has been coming around to the possibility of a torpedo attack by North Korea, so now they have reacted.”

He commented, “North Korea is anticipating the possible ripple effects of the Cheonan incident on future Inter-Korean relations and the Six-Party Talks, and is being deliberate in its preparations.”

Kim Yeon Su, a professor from the South Korean National Defense University added that to refute accusations of involvement was a secondary concern behind the article, “The article seems to be intended to remind pro-North Korean parties about the meaning of the Cheonan incident rather than focus on proving that they are not related to it. They want to hinder conservative parties in the South Korean local elections on June 2.”

North Korea believes that rumors of its involvement in the Cheonan sinking serve the role of assembling conservatives for the local elections, something which would be to the advantage of the ruling Grand National Party, justifying the administration’s North Korea policy, and strengthening pressure from the international community.

Regarding North Korea releasing its view on the sinking widely through its domestic media, Professor Kim concluded, “The intention could be to declare a ‘quasi-state of war’ by establishing a tense atmosphere and build the Kim Jong Eun succession system.”

He also indicated that a process similar to that when Kim Jong Il was nominated Defense Commission Chairman immediately after withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1993 could be taking place now.