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The truth of the Cheonan's demise is hidden beneath the waves

Earlier this year a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, claimed 46 lives when it sank off the coast of North Korea. The events surrounding this tragedy were unclear, with noncommittal comments from both Korean countries.  Speculation and rumours appear frequently in press coverage. As more details emerge the initial suggestion that an explosives accident was to blame has been abandoned. This is a serious case of geopolitical intrigue. The eventual conclusion is that North Korea had in fact released a deadly torpedo attack on the Cheonan. The UN Security Council are now involved, which conveys the magnitude of the event for the international community.

This summer sees the 10th anniversary of another political minefield ignited by naval events. The Kursk disaster involved the sinking of the Russian fleet’s most advanced submarine following an undersea explosion. Following the loss of the Kursk the Russian government’s reaction was enigmatic, especially considering 118 sailors had been killed.  Despite question marks over the political motivations which could have prompted the disaster, the generally accepted scenario is that the Kursk’s fate was down to its “own torpedo mishap”; at least, this is the version of events according to the all-knowing Wikipedia.

A French documentary aims to uncover the truth behind the PR mask. Kursk: A Submarine in Troubled Waters is a persuasive piece of film-making providing an in-depth look at the consequences of the event, encompassing politics, media and personal tragedy. The film’s position certainly isn’t neutral, but the evidence is convincing and it is easy to believe that there is far more going on behind the scenes than the public gets to see.  The film is available for viewing on the jtd website here.

Kursk highlights the extent to which the former President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, controlled the event’s outfall.  One of the most disturbing moments in the film is the statement that had the situation worsened between Russia and the USA, the world could have been facing a conflict on the scale of a third World War, and this time it would be nuclear. To get a sense of the historical and political background from the Cold War to the present day, have a look at the jtd title The Putin System which charts his rise to power and puts things into perspective.

Russia looked to their President for decisive action and were left wanting

It is very interesting to acknowledge the parallels between the Kursk and the murky tragedy of the Cheonan. The more recent crisis again seems to be a dramatic turning point for geopolitical relations. North and South Korea are in fact technically still at war, having only signed an armistice (rather than an official peace treaty) back in 1953. A report by the BBC conveys the extent to which the relationship between the two countries continues to be strained, particularly in light of the Cheonan’s sinking, and can be viewed here. This film displays examples of military officials dodging responsibility and evading the truth, as Kursk does, and one wonders just how much is being hidden below the political surface.