Russian Navy experts who assessed the South Korean investigation of the sinking of the Navy corvette Cheonan, concluded North Korea cannot with absolute certainty be held responsible for the shipwreck, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Citing Russia’s Interfax news agency, the Japanese daily said although the Russians examined the hull of Cheonan and other evidence, they concluded it was insufficient to implicate North Korea. This makes it likely that Russia, one of the North’s few allies, will offer little support in the UN Security Council to action against Pyongyang.

The four Russian submarine and torpedo experts arrived in Korea on May 31. They stayed away from the media and left on Monday.

Tags: North Korea, Russia, South Korea