ANKARA

South Korea on Tuesday accused archrival North Korea of discharging water from a dam near the inter-Korean border recently without prior notice, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

According to Seoul's Unification Ministry, North Korea appears to have released water from the Hwanggang Dam, located upstream on the Imjin River, which flows across the inter-Korean border, twice between June and July, both times without prior notice to South Korea.

The water was discharged on June 25 and again on July 18, a ministry official said, reiterating Seoul's call for Pyongyang to provide prior notice before releasing water from the border dam, citing "humanitarian" concerns.

In September 2009, an "unannounced" discharge from the Hwanggang dam caused flooding in the South Korean border city of Yeoncheon, leaving six residents dead or missing.

"The government is monitoring the situation regarding North Korea's water discharge in cooperation with relevant agencies to prevent any damage to border areas from heavy rains," the official said.

In late 2009, Pyongyang agreed to provide prior notice before discharging water from the dam.

*Writing by Aamir Latif