North Korea released dam water near the central part of the inter-Korean border last week apparently to secure power for celebrations of a key anniversary, causing South Korean fishermen below the border to flee the region, officials here said Wednesday.
  

North Korea released water from the Hwanggang Dam on the Imjin River on the morning of Oct. 7, three days before it marked the 70th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party with a massive military parade through Pyongyang.
  

Water levels at Gunnam Dam below the border rose from 23.15 meters to 23.66 meters before falling back on Monday, according to the officials at the South Korean border county of Yeoncheon and the country's state-run water resources company K-Water.
  

On Tuesday, water levels rose again to 23.55 meters. As of Wednesday morning, the water level was measured at 23.45 meters.
  

North Korea did not inform the South in advance of the water discharge, but no damage has been reported.
  

Officials here said they evacuated people who were fishing on the river.
  

"It appears that the North released dam water to secure power as they prepared to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party," said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity. (Yonhap)