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US Promises Transparent Probe on Submarine Accident
The United States on Monday promised to carry out a "transparent and complete" investigation of the sinking of a Japanese trawler off Hawaii by an US attack nuclear submarine.
"We are absolutely committed to a transparent and complete investigation of what happened. It is a very, very sad incident. We are very apologetic about it," Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bush's national security adviser, said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show.
Asked why the US submarine with sophisticated technologies overlooked the Japanese ship directly above it, Rice said there was no evidence so far that the commander of the US submarine had not followed correct procedures.
"But it's an issue that has to be examined in-depth," she said.
As to the Japanese side's complaints that the crew members of the US submarine had not acted quickly to help people on the trawler, Rice said the US side would look at whether or not there was proper aid given, adding that she could not comment further and would wait to see what came out of the inquiry.
Rice said President Bush was closely monitoring the situation and may talk to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori about the accident.
She also said that the US government had not made a decision about Japan's request to raise the sunk trawler.
On Friday, the USS Greeneville, a 110-meter attack nuclear submarine, suddenly surfaced and crashed into the Japanese trawler on the sea near Hawaii. The Japanese ship sank in minutes and nine people, including four fishery students, have been missing since the accident.
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