S. Korea warned over naval clash

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has lashed out at South Korea after their naval skirmish earlier in the week. DPRK media also warn South Korea it would pay dearly for what it called grave armed provocation.

This undated photo released by the South Korea Navy shows high- speed patrol boats armed with canons and machine guns. A NKorean patrol boat was set ablaze after exchanging fire with SKorea's navy on Tuesday, Seoul officials said, as cross-border tensions rose a week before a US presidential visit.

The DPRK newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, says the latest clash was not an accident. It says the South Korean military deliberately provoked the incident to escalate tension on the Korean Peninsula. Another official newspaper, Minju Joson, claims South Korea should stop digging its own grave, make an apology, and take responsible measures to prevent a recurrence. The South Korean media reacted moderately after the clash. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports senior officials from South Korea and the DPRK met secretly in Kaesong last week. The South Korean government denies the claim.

Chun Hae-Sung, spokesman of South Korea Unification Ministry,said, "According to certain media, a high official from our ministry met with the North Korean side in Kaesong last weekend, but this is not true."