S Korea demands apology from DPRK over dam discharge

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Tuesday requested an apology from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over a sudden dam discharge which led into six people's death or disappearance.

"With regard to the loss of our citizens' lives, our government demands a sufficient explanation from the North (DPRK)'s responsible authorities and an apology," Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said in a statement announced at a press briefing.

The DPRK on Monday replied to South Korea's earlier request of an explanation, saying a sudden surge of water at a dam at the Imjin River, near the border with the South, led to a massive discharge early Sunday morning.

"We looked into the issue and found that the water was discharged in an emergency as it reached high levels," the DPRK said in the message to South Korea.