▲ A South Korean area around a dam in the inter-Korean border county of Yeoncheon remains submerged in this photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024, following a suspected cross-border dam discharge by North Korea. (Yonhap)
▲ Chang Yoon-jeong, a unification deputy spokesperson, speaks at a press briefing on June 27, 2025. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Koreas-water discharge

(LEAD) S. Korea calls on N. Korea to give prior notice before cross-border dam discharge

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info from 3rd para; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry on Friday called on North Korea to provide prior notice before releasing water from a dam across the border, after the North's unannounced monsoon-season discharges raised safety concerns for residents in South Korea's border areas.

"(We) request that North Korea give advance notice when discharging water from the dam, for humanitarian purposes, to prevent flooding in border areas during the monsoon season," Chang Yoon-jeong, a unification deputy spokesperson, said at a press briefing.

Chang cited the protection of lives and safety of South Korean residents in border areas as the reason for the request, adding the Lee Jae Myung government considers it the country's "most important duty."

"Having advance notice before a dam discharge from North Korea is a matter directly related to the lives and safety of our people," she said.

The deputy spokesperson also emphasized joint responses to natural disasters are a humanitarian issue, noting that the two Koreas agreed multiple times in the past to cooperate in preventing flooding along the Imjin River, which flows from the North to the South.

The call came two days after South Korea's environment ministry warned that the water level near Pilseung Bridge on the Imjin River, just south of the inter-Korean border, had risen to 1 meter due to suspected water discharge from North Korea's Hwanggang Dam. A water level of 1 meter triggers the evacuation of visitors in the river area.

As of early Friday, the water level had subsided to 0.77 m, according to Chang.

Opening the floodgates of North Korea's Hwanggang Dam causes water levels to rise on the southern side of the Imjin River.

North Korea's unannounced water release from the Hwanggang Dam in September 2009 caused flooding in Yeoncheon, leaving six South Koreans killed or missing.

The following month, the North agreed to provide prior notice before discharging water. The regime sent such notices intermittently in 2010 and 2013, but has not issued any since.

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