South Korea expressed strong regret Monday that North Korea has lashed out at President Park Geun-hye's Liberation Day speech as she sternly warned of retaliation against the North's provocations.

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said in a statement on Sunday that the president's speech "viciously" slandered the North, warning that she will pay the price for her actions.

To mark the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule, Park said Saturday that South Korea "will sternly deal with any North Korean provocations," adding that provocations and threats will only result in North Korea's isolation and destruction.

The statement came as North Korea on Friday denied its role in the recent blasts of three land mines blamed on the North in the southern area of the heavily fortified demilitarized zone that bisects the two Koreas.

The Unification Ministry voiced strong regret over the North's statement, urging it to immediately stop insulting Park.

"The government strongly condemns North Korea for making a preposterous argument that the recent mine incident is a fabricated slander against the North," Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, said at a regular press briefing.

Jeong called on North Korea to accept Seoul's offer for dialogue and move together toward peaceful unification.

"We urge the North to seek dialogue and cooperation in a bid to help ease military tension between the two Koreas, build mutual trust and improve the livelihoods of the North Korean people," he said. (Yonhap)