US defense chief: No comparison between Israeli attack on flotilla, sinking of SKorean ship

Gates: No comparison between Israel, NKorea

SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there is no comparison between North Korea’s alleged sinking of a South Korean warship and Israel’s attack on an aid flotilla.

Gates was commenting Saturday on a question by a Chinese general at a security summit in Singapore, where he had delivered a speech.

Gates says the attack on the South Korean corvette Cheonan that killed 46 sailors in March was a surprise operation “without any warning.” An international probe found that a North Korean submarine torpedoed the warship.

He says Israel’s commando raid on the flotilla this week took place after warnings were issued to the aid ships. Gates says “there is no comparison whatsoever between what happened with Cheonan and in the Mediterranean.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the sinking of a South Korean warship doesn’t show gaps in the security that U.S. forces in the Pacific are supposed to provide for allies.

Gates says what the fatal sinking shows is simply that a surprise attack can be very effective.

Gates laid blame for the sinking squarely on North Korea. He told a conference of Asian defense chiefs that there must be consequences for what he called an unprovoked assault.

Gates warned the group that “for nothing to happen would be a very bad precedent.”