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http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/05/01/60/0301000000AEN20100501002000320F.HTML
(LEAD) Origin of aluminum fragments taken from warship undetermined: source
SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) — The origin of aluminum fragments taken from the site where a warship sank cannot be determined at present, a senior government official said Saturday, toning down speculation that the metal may have come from a torpedo.
The source, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Yonhap News Agency that one of the four small aluminum pieces and one piece of plastic material may have come from the 1,200-ton corvette that broke in two and sank on March 26.
The 88-meter-long ship armed with guns, anti-ship missiles and light torpedoes had a crew of 104 on the night of its sinking, and 46 sailors were killed in the incident.
“At present, it is too early to say if the pieces were from a torpedo or other type of explosive device,” he said.
The official said the ill-fated warship's hull was made of steel, but its superstructure above deck was made from lighter aluminum. Such building techniques to reduce warships’ top-heaviness, which can hurt stability, are common.
He added that the joint civilian and military team that has been set up to investigate is carefully examining the fragments to see if they came from the ship or from an outside device.
“Checking the fragments should take a little more time,” he said.
The comments follow a statement made Friday by Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, who said the aluminum fragments recovered from inside the ship that was salvaged from the sea bottom are different from those normally found on the ship.
The fragments ranged in size from 3 millimeters to 4-5 centimeters.
Authorities, meanwhile, have made a detailed three-dimensional image of the severed parts of the ship and have sent some data to the U.S. Navy for additional analysis.