Seoul urges Pyongyang to give prior notice before releasing dam water

The Unification Ministry here has urged Pyongyang to inform Seoul in advance of any intention to discharge water from a dam across the border.

Making note of past agreements between the two Koreas to fight flash flooding during the monsoon season, the ministry emphasized that early notification would serve to prevent accidents arising from sudden surges in water levels of the Imjingang River that flows from the north to the south.

Back in 2009, an unannounced release of water from North Korea's Hwanggang Dam near the border resulted in the loss of six South Korean lives.