S. Korea demands apology from North over deadly dam release

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea demanded an apology and a further explanation from North Korea over a sudden discharge of dam water that left six people dead or missing, saying the North's response was not satisfactory.

"With regard to the loss of our citizens' lives, our government demands a
sufficient explanation from the North's responsible authorities and an apology,"
Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said in a statement announced at a
press briefing.
In an unusually prompt response, North Korea said Monday a sudden surge of water
at a dam near the border with the South led to a massive discharge early Sunday
morning.
Some 40 million tons of water from the Hwanggang Dam pushed through the Imjin
River, which flows out to South Korea's west coast, sweeping away six people who
were camping or fishing along the riverbanks, officials said. Three bodies have
been found.
"We looked into the issue and found that the water was discharged in an emergency
as it reached high levels," the North said in the letter.
Pyongyang also said it will issue alerts in the future to prevent the recurrence
of similar floods.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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