国际英语新闻：South Korea urged to apologize for provocations against DPRK: KCNA

PYONGYANG, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has demanded that South Korea stop "provocations" and apologize for them, the official news agency KCNA reported.

The two sides held military working talks in the truce village of Panmunjom on Thursday.

Ri Son Gwon, who headed the DPRK delegation, accused South Korea of scattering anti-DPRK leaflets and slammed it for intrusion into the territorial waters of the DPRK side, according to the KCNA.

He strongly urged South Korea to apologize for its provocations against the DPRK on the ground and in the sea "when the inter-Korean relations are at a serious crossroads.

He also urged the south side to severely "punish their chief culprits and take responsible measures to prevent the recurrence of the above-said provocations."

If South Korea failed to immediately stop the provocations against the DPRK on the ground and in the sea, it would face disastrous consequences, the DPRK warned.

The DPRK also said that it was foolish to still talk about the sinking of South Korea's "Cheonan" warship, according to the KCNA.

South Korea claimed that the Cheonan was sunk as a result of a torpedo attack from the north. The DPRK has rejected the charges.

The last such military talks between Seoul and Pyongyang were held in October 2008.