Memorial Service Held on 4th Anniversary of Cheonan Sinking

South Korea is marking a sober anniversary on this Wednesday. On March 26th, 2010,... 46 South Koreans lost their lives in the sinking of the warship Cheonan. Our defense ministry correspondent Kim Hyun-bin reports on a memorial ceremony in Daejeon. Four years ago this Wednesday, the South Korean warship Cheonan was sunk in a torpedo attack blamed on North Korea. To remember the 46 South Korean sailors who lost their lives that day,... a memorial ceremony was held at Daejeon National Cemetery on Wednesday morning. Thousands of people, including families of the victims and high-ranking government officials were in attendance. President Park Geun-hye wasn't able to attend the event, as she's currently in Europe, but did send a special statement. "To achieve reunification, we need a strong military. If there are future provocations from the North, our military should retaliate strongly." Prime Minister Jung Hong-won also emphasized the importance of national security... in light of Pyongyang making continuous threats. He also called on the North to stop its provocative acts. "North Korea recently launched missiles on seven different occasions, escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea must stop its provocations and cooperate with the international community." "The memorial ceremony is not only a time to remember those brave souls who so tragically lost their lives,... it also serves as a solemn reminder that South Korea needs to maintain the utmost readiness against future provocations from the North. Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News, Daejeon.