North Korea intentionally caused a flash flood that killed six South Koreans south of the border, Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said Wednesday.
Speaking on North Korea's discharge of dam water into a cross-border river Sunday at the National Assembly, Minister Hyun said, "I think the North did it intentionally."
Hyun is the first South Korean official publicly to claim that the release of the water was deliberate.
North Korea Monday blamed a sudden surge in the dam's water level for the "emergency" release and promised to give prior warning of future discharges.
But Seoul Tuesday demanded an apology and full explanation from Pyongyang for the sudden surge, which carried away campers south of the heavily fortified border.
Officials said there had been no heavy rain in the North in recent days to explain such a surge, and also noted its communist neighbor failed to express regret for the victims.
The tragedy threatens to damage cross-border relations which had lately been improving. Last month the North made peace overtures both to its southern neighbor and the United States. It freed five South Korean detainees, eased border curbs and sent envoys for talks with President Lee Myung-bak.
Some Seoul newspapers have raised suspicions the surge was intentional and possibly aimed at pressuring the South to resume cross-border aid and economic projects.