The dispute over the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel in March has been papered over with a presidential statement unanimously approved by the 15-member United Nations Security Council.

As a result, we have the bizarre situation where the statement was applauded by both South Korea, the victim, and North Korea, the alleged attacker.

This was possible only because of a compromise reached between the United States, South Korea's ally, and China, North Korea's biggest supporter.