The International Criminal Court (ICC) has concluded that the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island and the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in 2010 are not war crimes that fall under its jurisdiction.
 
After three and a half years of conducting a preliminary investigation, the ICC said Monday that the attack on the Cheonan was aimed at the military and not civilians. It also said it is difficult to prove that the North’s attack on civilians on Yeonpyeong Island was purposeful with the information at hand.
 
The ICC added that it requested information from North Korea to find out the truth about the incidents, but was unable to engage in an adequate investigation due to disregard by the North.
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ICC's decision does not mean that the incidents were not carried out by North Korea.