AP Enterprise: Alleged North Korean ship attack came near US-SKorea anti-sub maneuvers

AP Enterprise: Sub attack came near drill

WASHINGTON — Military officials tell The Associated Press that the U.S. and South Korea were engaged in joint anti-submarine warfare exercises just 75 miles away from where a torpedo-armed North Korean submarine allegedly sank a South Korean patrol ship.

The blast that sank the Cheonan resulted in the worst South Korean military disaster since the 1950-53 Korean War. It showed how impoverished nations such as North Korea can still inflict heavy casualties on far better equipped and trained forces.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says plans for more joint U.S.-South Korea anti-submarine exercises are on hold awaiting U.N. action on the incident.

Gates says there is concern in part about instigating another rash act by the North.