UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council condemned on Friday what it called an attack leading to the sinking of a South Korean ship in March, but in a concession to China stopped short of explicitly blaming North Korea.
In a statement agreed to by all its 15 members, the council expressed "deep concern" over findings by a South-Korean-led panel of inquiry that North Korea had sunk the naval corvette Cheonan, but noted that Pyongyang had denied responsibility.
The statement was virtually identical to a draft agreed to by the five permanent members of the council, including Pyongyang's ally China, as well as Japan and South Korea. The draft was circulated by the United States to all members of the council on Thursday.
South Korea has blamed the March 26 sinking, which took the lives of 46 of its sailors, on a North Korean torpedo attack. Seoul took the matter to the Security Council on June 4, requesting action to deter "further provocation by North Korea."
Putting together a council statement took weeks, slowed by China, which is believed to be worried about sacrificing influence in Pyongyang.
The Security Council said the attack -- a word ruling out that the Cheonan could have been sunk accidentally -- "endangers peace and security in the region and beyond."
It praised South Korea for a restrained reaction to the sinking and called for the maintenance of peace and security on the Korean peninsula -- a possible reference to threats by North Korea to respond militarily to any council action.
(Reporting by Patrick Worsnip; editing by Vicki Allen)
