Asia-Pacific

DPRK warns over warships entering waters

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-25 20:05

PYONGYANG - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday warned that South Korean warships trespassed on DPRK territorial waters in the past two weeks and that the intrusions could lead to military conflict, the official KCNA news agency reported.

"Dozens of South Korean warships intruded the territorial waters of the north side from May 14 to 24," said head of the DPRK delegation to the north-south military working talks in a notice sent to the south side. 　"This is a deliberate provocation aimed to spark off another military conflict" and "thus push to a war phase the present north-south relations that reached the lowest ebb." 　

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If the south side continues its intrusions into the territorial waters of the north side, the DPRK would take "practical military measures to defend its waters ... and the south side will be held fully accountable for all the consequences," he warned.

The warning came as tension heightened between the north and south following the sinking of a South Korean warship near the maritime border.

South Korea released results of an investigation last Thursday, accusing the DPRK of sinking the Cheonan in a torpedo attack. The DPRK's National Defense Commission immediately denied any wrong doing and offered to send inspectors to check the investigation results.

The offer was rejected by the south. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday demanded an apology from the DPRK and said his country would resort to measures of self defense in case of further military provocation by the north.

The Cheonan, a 1,200-ton warship with 104 crew members on board, sank on March 26 after an explosion. Only 58 sailors survived the incident.