(LEAD) N. Korea discharges dam water near border with South

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)

SEOUL/YEONCHEON, July 6 (Yonhap) -- North Korea discharged water from a dam near the border with South Korea Wednesday, prompting the South to evacuate border-area residents for fears of flooding.

"It seems that North Korea discharged water from Hwanggang Dam at around 6 a.m.," a South Korean military official said. "North Korea opened the floodgates of the dam bit by bit from early morning."

The North did not notify the South of the dam water discharge in advance despite their previous agreement to do so, the official said.

Still, Seoul ruled out the possibility that the sudden water release has anything to do with flooding attacks, he added.

The water level at the North Korean dam had been detected to have risen to full capacity with the area having massive rainfalls in recent weeks.

Six South Koreans were killed in September 2009 after North Korea released a massive amount of water from the border dam without prior warning.

Shortly after the incident, North Korea agreed with the South to notify each other in advance before any dam water discharge.

The North Korean dam is located about 42 kilometers north of the inter-Korean military demarcation line and its full capability is believed to be about 300 million to 400 million tons.

As the discharged water will flow downstream through the Imjin River to the South, Seoul aired warning broadcasts and sent text messages in the border neighborhoods, urging fishermen and residents to stay clear of the river.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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