Vietnam consistently supports peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula as well as the settlement of every issue through peaceful dialogues.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement while answering reporters’ questions about the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s announcement of the results of investigations over the sinking of its Cheonan warship on May 20.

“The Cheonan warship sinking was regrettable. The Vietnamese government once again expresses its deep condolences to the RoK government over human losses caused by the sinking,” she said.

Vietnam always pays attention to current developments on the Korean Peninsula and hopes that the parties refrain for peace and stability on the peninsula as well as in the region, she added.

Earlier, the RoK Defence Ministry held a press conference to announce the results of investigations by a group of civilian and military experts on the reasons for the Cheonan sinking on March 26, which killed 46 sailors.

According to Xinhua, the ministry’s report said the 1,200-tonne warship Cheonan went sunk as a result of an external underwater explosion caused by a torpedo fired by a DPRK submarine.

“The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) submarine. There is no other plausible explanation,” Xinhua quoted the report.

RoK President Lee Myung-bank on May 20 said the country will take firm measures against the DPRK over the sinking of the warship.

Just after the RoK’s announcement, the DPRK released a statement rejecting Seoul ’s accusation that Cheonan warship was torpedoed by the DPRK.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted the spokesman of the DPRK National Defence Commission as saying that the RoK’s conclusion was a “fabrication” and Pyongyang will send inspectors to Seoul to verify the results of the investigations.

He warned that the DPRK will take resolute response measures, including an “all-out” war, if the country is imposed with new punishments./.