DPRK calls on Seoul to avoid undermining inter-Korean rapprochement

PYONGYANG -- The official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday called on the Republic of Korea (ROK) to avoid any action that could harm the on-going inter-Korean rapprochement.

Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the DPRK, called a ceremony recently held marking the 8th anniversary of the sinking of ROK warship Cheonan "an unpardonable confrontational act of throwing a wet blanket over the atmosphere of improved inter-Korean relations."

High-ranking authorities and officials, opposition parties and the commander of the US troops in ROK attended the ceremony held at the State Taejon Hyonchung Cemetery.

The daily, a newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, called the ceremony an anti-DPRK confrontational farce invented by South Korean conservatives to completely destroy north-south relations.

"Nevertheless, the present South Korean authorities ... are chiming in on the anti-DPRK smear incident," the daily said.

The Cheonan sunk in 2010. Of the 104 soldiers onboard, 46 were killed. Seoul said the corvette was sunk by torpedoes fired by the DPRK, a charge repeatedly denied by Pyongyang.

The two Koreas held a high-level dialogue last week, agreeing to hold a summit between ROK President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un on April 27 in Panmunjom.